BBL 2019-20 | Road to BBL-09 Final; 5 teams make it through
When the Brisbane Heat and AB de Villiers crashed out of the Big Bash tournament, everyone including the ardent Indian Premier League fans wondered why did the Sydney Thunder qualify despite being fifth on the points table. Well, because the Big Bash allows five teams to enter to the playoff stage.
So, if five teams qualify for the knock-out stage, how is the tournament tough because there are only eight teams? Well if you are a Heat-fanatic or a Scorchers sensation or even if you are supporting the Melbourne Renegades after last season, sadly, your teams did not make it through the bare five. Cricket Australia have revamped the structure of the competition to better reward the teams that finish in the top-two of the points table.
The path is set. Five teams are left standing.
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 27, 2020
Go get that 🏆 #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/f36oi9X2vJ
"The number one element is to give the best chance for the teams finishing first and second to make it through," said Cricket Australia's Head of the BBL, Alistair Dobson, at the launch of the 2019-20 BBL fixture.
"(We want) more fans to be part of the finals and this model also gives us a chance for the team hosting the final to have more preparation," he added. I will explain what the fuss about the finals of this edition is, and what is the fair chance for all the teams to have a shot at the illustrious Big Bash League trophy.
Watching the Big Bash for the first time, what was the format last year?
Prior to the 9th edition of the Big Bash, only four teams would qualify for the knock-out stages. In that format, the team that ended up at the top of the table would play the team that ends in the fourth place. Meanwhile, the second-placed team would take on the third-placed team for a place in the finals. The winners, of course, would play in the finals where one of them would be crowned champions. Last season, it was the Melbourne Renegades, who got the better of their city-rivals Stars to win the title for the first time.
So, how has it changed this year?
This season, five teams qualify for the knock-out stage in a rather strange format, which includes the array of names - The Eliminator, The Qualifier, The Knock-Out, The Challenger and The Final. Two teams out of the five would again fight each other for the title and the bragging rights until next year.
The Eliminator:
A new format, new opportunities for the team that finishes fifth on the points table. This tournament, it was by a slender margin that the Sydney Thunder made it to the fifth place while Brisbane Heat missed their chance to stake a claim. If the Heat’s had got an upper hand over the wooden-spoon holders Melbourne Renegades at home, they would have made it to the knock-out stage of the tournament. However, as it stands, Usman Khawaja and co make their trip to Hobart to take on the ‘Canes in the first eliminator on 30th January. Where does the winner proceed? They will have to wait a day before they could take on the Strikers.
The Qualifier:
The Qualifier or a bragging right is the top-of-the-table clash between Melbourne Stars and the Sydney Sixers on the 31st. While Glenn Maxwell and co would like to continue their merry run through the group stages, they would face tough-contenders in the form of a Moises-Henrique led Sixers side. How close is the encounter going to be, one team finished on 20 points while the other finished narrowly second at 19. The Stars would be without the trio of Hilton Cartwright, Haris Rauf and Sandeep Lamichhane would miss out from the qualifier, while the Sixers will boast a full-strength side.
The Knockout:
Adelaide Strikers at home will be waiting patiently to have a go at the winners from the Eliminator. The encounter which will kick off February will also be crucial to the two sides chances of making it to the Challenger phase where they will have a chance at making to the finals. As the name suggests, if one of the team loses the Knockout, they will be out of the tournament for the good, one last time.
The Challenger:
Another ‘The,’ in the title and this time, it is the challenger between two sides in the knock-out stages. While the winner from the knock-out will have an entry into the encounter on the 6th of February, the losers from The Qualifier, either of Melbourne Stars or the Sydney Sixers would make their way into it directly against the winner of the Knockouts. Stars or Sixers would have the home advantage against the other side played on the 6th of February.
The Final:
Winner of the Qualifier vs Winner of the Challenger, as simple as that for the Big Bash title. If the Sixers or Stars do make it through the challenger round, there might a rematch between the top two sides in the group stages in the Final. The winner of the qualifier will have the home advantage going into the finals of the tournament. Three of the sides have won the Big Bash previously, Sydney Sixers, Thunder and Strikers. Will the Stars be third time lucky?
Which team has never won the Big Bash amongst the five?
Sixers, Thunder and Strikers have won a BBL each, in 2011-12, 15-16 and 17-18 respectively. However, the other two sides, Stars and the Hobart Hurricanes have never laid a hand on the prestigious trophy. Stars have reached the finals in two seasons, back in 2015-16 against the Thunder and recently against Melbourne Renegades in 18-19.