Big Bash League Semi-Final: Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes, MCG, 04/04/14 @ 7:30PM

[ep2018]

Whoever wins next game hosts the final.

Would rather lose if it meant we avoided losing a third consecutive home final

 

[ep2018]

Actually tonight proves how great the top 4 system is in the AFL/NRL, specifically the double chance.

No luck for the Stars tonight who get knocked out after going undefeated in the regular season.

 

[Mingo]

God, it's just an incredible list of chokes in big matches by guys like Hussey, Hodge, Maxwell, White, Wade and co. Unprecedented, surely, in the history of state cricket.

Hodge hardly choked...

 

[rioli is a hack]

Hodge hardly choked...

Clutching at straws.

 

[The_Reaper]

Actually tonight proves how great the top 4 system is in the AFL/NRL, specifically the double chance.

No luck for the Stars tonight who get knocked out after going undefeated in the regular season.

Not really. If you can't win when it counts then you don't deserve to win.

 

[TassieEagle]

Actually tonight proves how great the top 4 system is in the AFL/NRL, specifically the double chance.

No luck for the Stars tonight who get knocked out after going undefeated in the regular season.

A pure league format would work better for T20 as one off finals are to prone to upsets like tonight. That said I wouldn't change a thing

 

[The_Reaper]

A pure league format would work better for T20 as one off finals are to prone to upsets like tonight. That said I wouldn't change a thing

I think in Australian sporting culture you really need to have a final.

 

[Arbuckle]

Hodge hardly choked...

With respect, I don't think you understood my point. They have all collectively been part of an incredible number of teams which have choked in big games. I'm not saying every single one of them has choked in every single match (that would plainly be absurd), but their records overall are horrendous. Hodge has certainly failed on the big stage many, many times btw.

 

[UpForGrabs]

As a tribute to tonight's glorious match, I think someone needs to put out the cricket equivalent to this classic piece of viewing:

 

[Disco_Roach]

One final where he did well in. Has choked at every other one

Wrong. Again.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ausdomestic-09/engine/current/match/417700.html

Against Victoria. Again.

 

[Admiral Byng]

A pure league format would work better for T20 as one off finals are to prone to upsets like tonight. That said I wouldn't change a thing

I saw this posted somewhere else:

1 v 2 - winner directly into the final, loser gets a second chance
3 v 4 - loser eliminated, winner plays loser of first final for the other spot in the final.

It requires one extra final to be scheduled over the current system, which may pose logistical problems. But on the other hand it's another final where CA can sell tickets.

 

[DardySingh360]

Scorchers to make the final at home and lose again! COYBIO

 

[Noobz0r]

I don't give two shits about a domestic t20 rubbish game, its not real cricket and never will be. What annoys me about Paine is his attitude, if you abuse your own teammates you can **** right off.

You're posting a lot of vitriol for someone who doesn't care...

 

[Damon_3388]

Yeah alright Kanye, I'm a let you finish but Mark Atkinson is Tasmania's greatest keeper of all time.

Sean Clingeleffer? More FC centuries (three) than Paine (one) and Atkinson (zero) combined.

 

[Badesumofu]

I saw this posted somewhere else:

1 v 2 - winner directly into the final, loser gets a second chance
3 v 4 - loser eliminated, winner plays loser of first final for the other spot in the final.

It requires one extra final to be scheduled over the current system, which may pose logistical problems. But on the other hand it's another final where CA can sell tickets.

I'd like something like that as well. The AFL used to have that final 4 scheme, and to my mind it gives a better reward for a strong season. After tonight's incredibly bad crowd of 12K, you'd have to question whether the ticket selling angle is really there. I mean, Ricky Ponting's tribute game in Launnie (a city of about 150K) got a significantly bigger attendance.

 

[The_Reaper]

Sean Clingeleffer? More FC centuries (three) than Paine (one) and Atkinson (zero) combined.

Since when did FC centuries measure someones ability as a keeper?

 

[TassieEagle]

You're posting a lot of vitriol for someone who doesn't care...

Added to that he is, if anything, given his Tigers teammates some props for getting extra money. Its the Stars system not individual players he mentioned, not that it was anything massive to start with should have been shrugged off by everyone for what it was.

 

[TassieEagle]

Since when did FC centuries measure someones ability as a keeper?

Since people started making arguments for Matthew Wade

 

[Dean Kemp]

Has Eddie advised the Stars players how many gold Logies they have cost him yet?

 

[TassieEagle]

Has Eddie advised the Stars players how many gold Logies they have cost him yet?

Did Eddie have to melt down gold logies to pay his players?

 

[Damon_3388]

Since when did FC centuries measure someones ability as a keeper?

Well considering (from memory) none of the candidates are noticeably greater than the other with the gloves, their batting would be what differentiates them.

 

[Admiral Byng]

I'd like something like that as well. The AFL used to have that final 4 scheme, and to my mind it gives a better reward for a strong season. After tonight's incredibly bad crowd of 12K, you'd have to question whether the ticket selling angle is really there. I mean, Ricky Ponting's tribute game in Launnie (a city of about 150K) got a significantly bigger attendance.

Mods - Feel free to split off if you think it worth a new thread?

I think the problem is that the tournament has gone on just a bit too long. It should start around Christmas and finish before the kids head back to school. I think tonight's crowd is what happens on a Tuesday night on a school week. The tournament needs to finish earlier IMHO to fit the extra final in. We need a few double-headers on Friday, Saturday or Sundays earlier in the season, afternoon games or a late game played at night Perth time. Basically a game on every night during the January holiday period. Compress the season into a shorter time-span.

 

[W.C. Fry]

Just realised the final is on a Friday. So if the Scorchers get up its going to be 4:40 on a workday. Why the hell isn't it on Saturday?

Just really bad scheduling for the finals. Why has the end of the comp dragged on so long? Should have had finals before school went back - tonights poor crowd is testament to that. Scorchers have played 1 game in the last 3 weeks. Only reason I could think is because they want all the "star" players back from Australian duties.... but as they are mostly all over in SA getting ready for tests it kind of defeats the purpose anyway.

*edit* Oh it just clicked why its not on Saturday. Winter Olympics. Lol go CA... getting pushed around for curling.

 

[Ronnie Baby]

Sean Clingeleffer? More FC centuries (three) than Paine (one) and Atkinson (zero) combined.

Clingeleffer was a poor man's Todd Pinnington.

 

[Blues_Man]

Who will win? Hard to go past the stars here, their side is excellent and they'll be pissed off at Tim Paine and will want to teach Tim Paine and the Hurricanes a lesson. Expected sides:

Wright Paine
White Dunk
Maxwell Bailey
Hodge Birt
Hussey Malik
Wade Gulbis
Stoinis Wells
Hastings Mascarenhas
McKay Doherty
Muirhead Hilfenhaus
Malinga Bollinger

Stars middle order looks just that much better

Yup they really taught those Hurricanes a lesson lol