Big Bash playing on Christmas Day a matter of when not if as players voice opposition

PLAYERS voicing their frustrations with the idea of Christmas Day Big Bash are putting themselves on a collision course with cricket bosses. It works for the NBA and it’ll work here according to its ‘creator’.

Clive Rose of the Hobart Hurricanes, Chris Tremain of the Melbourne Renegades, Josh Lalor of the Brisbane Heat, New Head of Big Bash League Kim McConnie, Ryan Gibson of the Sydney Thunder, Daniel Hughes of the Sydney Sixers, Alex Carey of the Adelaide Strikers. Picture. Phil Hillyard

NEW Big Bash boss Kim McConnie has refused to waver in the face of player objection to a Christmas Day game declaring it not a matter of if, but when it becomes part of the summer schedule.

Project “Jingle Bash” has been on the agenda since the idea was first put forward last year and McConnie, who has worked in the US where both NFL and NBA games are played on Christmas Day, wants to make it happen.

Last week however Melbourne’s BBL captains Aaron Finch and John Hastings gave the idea a thumbs down when asked by the Herald Sun, declaring they already travel on Christmas Day for Boxing Day games and that should be enough.

“I’d probably be swayed towards no, just because Christmas is about family,” said Renegades captain Finch who has twice had to travel on Christmas Day.

Project Jingle Bash will happen according to Big Bash boss Kim McConnie

Under terms agreed to in the new, hard fought Memorandum of Understanding the Australian Cricketers Association, of which Finch is part of the executive, also has formal powers to block such plans.

The ACA has established a scheduling advisory group which is consulted about all plans for BBL, Sheffield Shield and international cricket.

Despite the player hesitancy McConnie told the BBL website on Tuesday that Christmas Day games were “an opportunity for the BBL to offer families some entertainment” and that officials wanted it to happen.

“We already have a name for it: ‘Jingle Bash’! When you think about the BBL, it’s about great family-fun entertainment, and we’re seeing the rise of entertainment on Christmas Day,” she said.

“Movie cinemas are now open in the evening. Christmas Day starts to wind down in the afternoon/evening, so we see there’s definitely an opportunity for the BBL to offer families some entertainment.

“Whether you’re sitting on the couch in the early evening or you want to go to a game, there’s definitely a fit there.

“When it will happen, we don’t know, but definitely we love the idea of being able to provide some sort of early-evening entertainment to top off what is hopefully a great Christmas Day experience.”

This year Hastings and the Stars will have to travel on Christmas Day to Perth ahead of a Boxing Day clash with the Scorchers.

The only way BBL officials may be able to get a match on Christmas Day past the players would be to schedule a derby between two Sydney or Melbourne teams to avoid any extra travel.

Originally published as Big Bash playing on Christmas Day a matter of when not if as players voice opposition