Don't agree. Cricket has a range of issues and tbh - throwing more onto FTA would make it worse. Hear me out.
Its oversaturated. Used to be that you started with a few one dayers or state games, then onto tests and finishing with shorter form. November to Feb for the big games. If u were super keen, you could watch the same from os in the 'off season'. So to compete with other 90min sports, the game has gotten shorter. And now we have more games.
Its a marketing fail. Restrict supply to increase value vs dumping a cheaper product. Over time, people lose interest in the cheaper product. FTA would make that worse. The tragics would watch anything anytime, but the rank and file are what makes cricket popular. The tragics will get the subs.
This has fed down to the park level stuff. When I went back to park cricket 25 years ago, the assoc in Sydney I played in, 10 teams - 12 grades. Last year - 6 teams in four grades. Despite more sub-continentals in the area than you can poke a stick at. Why? Chicken or egg maybe. Is it the lack of support or the more money councils can make from soccer or oztag or similar. Hard to say - but can tell you between myself and kids cricket, the game is dying at a ground roots level in Sydney and reckon FTA has zero to do with it.
I went back to local A grade a few years ago (late 40's). Bought a lid for the first time coz I thought at my age, sure to get some young punk and I probably don't have it anymore after 10 years not playing. Threw the lid away after 3 overs and couldn't get over my disgust at the standard. And as the season progressed, the lid never came out again. And some of the teams had some lower grade quicks in it. On dodgy syntho. Weak as piss.
Yet I took the kid to one of his rep games last year and there was a 20/20 game on the next field, all from the sub continent. One of the bowlers had the keeper back a pitch and half and the dude was catching it on the up. And the bats were having a crack at this guy. Obviously there are some filthy cricketers playing T20, but not normal cricket.
Heard this is mainly around society and work schedules these days. well, can remember in the park days, guys worked around their cricket. Now guys cricket around their work. And T20 and techniques? FFS.
Know some of the state kids coming through atm. There's a kid playing for Bankstown (Blacktown?) 1sts who's signed on futures and I've heard he's good. But otherwise.... zippo. The 4 or 5 kids from my area (including an ex-test guys kid), seen them all and don't see the technique or the desire.
Telling ya - Oz cricket is on a slippery slope. Other than Green - anyone think of an under 25 player in the system thats worth something? Nope. Grade level in Sydney, anyone setting the world on fire? Nope.
Over saturated product and not enough people playing cricket. Can only end one way.
Rant over - back to annoying people on other threads.
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