Former New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori has admitted that he would love to see a New Zealand team in the Big Bash League, something the organisers of the BBL have also not ruled out, reports Cricket Australia.
Vettori, currently the coach of Brisbane Heat in this year’s Big Bash League feels that there could be a possibility of a Trans-Tasman team in the tournament. New Zealand’s domestic T20 tournament, the Super Smash, goes in between November and December and the spinner believes that both the tournaments could exist side by side.
Vettori talked about a Kiwi’s team inclusion in the BBL and how the New Zealanders would love it.
Vettori said: “I think from a New Zealand perspective we’d love to (have a team), it’s just I suppose working through the logistics of it. We have our own competition, obviously, both countries have their own international competitions. I know it’d be popular, I know people sit down at 8.30pm, 9.30pm at night and watch the Big Bash and watch it all the way through.”
He also added that Kiwis enjoy the current BBL, and said, “Certainly the numbers of people that know about the Big Bash and have a real affinity with it in New Zealand are huge.”
Mike Mckenna, Big Bash League Chief said that immediate expansion might not be possible due to hectic schedules already, but didn’t entirely rule out the plans. He also hinted at the possible nations with which the tournament could co-exist.
He said, “We explored the New Zealand option and South Africa, we looked at a competition that was titled the 'Southern Premier League' which included clubs from all of those countries, just with the international schedule and the timing you can play cricket in those countries, the proof was we couldn’t do it.
“There remains the case with New Zealand. We’ll look at it again. We’re very keen to work with New Zealand cricket, they’re very strong at the moment.”
Many other sports other than cricket include a team from New Zealand in Australian competitions, like NBL, A-League, NRL and ANZ. South Africa and New Zealand also compete in the Super Rugby Competition together.
Mckenna said, “We’re looking at our growth so whatever form that takes, whether it’s more games with the same teams or having more games with more teams, they’re all options for us.”
He concluded, “There’s opportunities to play teams away from their normal home grounds in different venues. As we did with the warm up game with the Stars and Renegades in Geelong. There’s very strong desire from some areas like Geelong, Canberra, Gold Coast and far north Queensland to have teams. They’ll definitely be considered.
“That game down at Geelong proved to be very attractive. We’re very keen to continue play high-quality cricket down there.”
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