Brand new, blockbuster ‘Big Bash’ cricket competition coming to Gympie
A brand new, blockbuster form of Twenty20 cricket centred around four locally-sponsored squads, a star-studded player auction and weekly games under Friday night lights is a feature event coming up on the Gold City’s sporting calendar.
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A brand new, blockbuster form of Twenty20 cricket centred around four locally-sponsored squads, a star-studded player auction and weekly games under Friday night lights is headed for Gympie.
The Bendigo Bank Big Bash arrives in July, with four “franchises” to pick their 15-man squads from a pool of free agents for six matches at Keith Manthey Oval starting on July 23.
The teams to take the field are the Gympie Motor Group Mustangs, the O’Brien Plumbing Bushrangers, the Century 21 Giants and the Calton Hill Dental Kings.
Interested players can nominate for the auction via the Gympie Regional Cricket Association Facebook page, with nominations closing on June 18 and the auction at the One Mile Ovals a week later.
Local cricketer and key organiser Kelvin Cochrane told Bilko & Ali on Zinc 96.1 this week that the new-look competition would bring plenty of excitement for both players and spectators.
“It’s really exciting for the locals, can’t wait to get out under the lights and check out the boys hitting it over the ropes, it’s super exciting,” Cochrane said.
“I’ve seen a couple of these events before and the auction night itself is actually really exciting to see which players get picked up, and who goes for the most money.”
The Big Bash competition winner will receive $2000, with $500 to the runners up and Player of the Match prizes dished out every week.
Each week’s 6:3opm game will be preceded by free junior coaching clinics from 5:15pm, with the GRCA looking to create “family friendly” events featuring fireworks, food trucks, jumping castles and celebrity player appearances.
Nominations for the competition are free, but each player selected in the June 18 auction will have to pay $50 to play.
Each team owner will build their respective squads with the help of allocated coaches and captains on the auction night within a virtual $20,000 salary cap, with opening bids starting from $100.
Each squad will also have to select two local “young guns” aged under 18.
For more head to the Gympie Regional Cricket Association Facebook page.