Introducing...the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash

The KFC Twenty20 Big Bash is the domestic Twenty20 cricket competition in Australia. The competition is organised by Cricket Australia, and sponsored by fast food chicken outlet KFC. Australia was slower to pick up the format of Twenty20 cricket than other countries such as England and South Africa, but eventually established a league amongst the domestic Australian sides in 2005. The inception of the domestic Twenty20 competition was hailed as one of the games biggest innovations in Australia since the advent of World Series Cricket nearly 30 years previously. The format has proved highly popular with crowds in excess of 10,000 for games even during the working week.

The format for the 2007/2008 KFC Twenty20 Big Bash consisted of a 15-match competition which saw each State play 5 matches. The teams which finished first and second on the points table met in a final at the first placed side's home ground. The final was held at the WACA Ground in Perth with Victoria beating Western Australia.

As in other countries, Australia has taken a light-hearted high entertainment approach to the domestic Twenty20 competition, with cheerleaders, DJ's, and nick-names all being features. The crowd are encouraged to wear fancy dress, and create a carnival atmosphere. Big hitting and fast scoring is a notable feature, and encourages crowd involvement.

Teams:

Victorian Bushrangers(VB Victorian Bushrangers)

New South Wales Blues(SpeedBlitz Blues)

Tasmanian Tigers(PKF Tasmanian Tigers)

Western Warriors(Retravision Warriors)

Southern Redbacks(West End Redbacks)

Queensland Bulls(XXXX Gold Queensland Bulls)

Records:

Highest Score: 7/233 Victorian Bushrangers vs New South Wales Blues, 21 Jan 2006, at North Sydney Oval.

Lowest Score (batting first): 97 (19.3 overs) Southern Redbacks, vs Western Warriors, 8 Jan 2008, at Adelaide Oval.

Biggest Winning Margin: 93 Victorian Bushrangers vs New South Wales Blues, 21 Jan 2006, at North Sydney Oval.

Lowest Winning Margin: 2 Victorian Bushrangers vs Western Warriors, 6 Jan 2006, at WACA Ground, Perth.

Highest Individual Score: 111 (56 balls) Michael Dighton, Tasmanian Tigers vs New South Wales Blues, 10 Jan 2007, at ANZ Stadium, Sydney.

Most Runs (Overall): Brad Hodge (476) for Victorian Bushrangers

Best Bowling: 6/25 (3 overs) Michael Dighton, Tasmanian Tigers vs Queensland Bulls, 1 Jan 2007, at The Heritage Oval, Toowoomba.

Most Wickets (overall): Shaun Tait- South Australia, Brett Dorey- Western Australia, Shane Harwood- Victoria Bushrangers (all took 15 wickets each)

Most Catches: 12 David Hussey, Victorian Bushrangers.

References:

Cricinfo - Records - in Australia - Twenty20 matches - Smallest victories (including ties)

Cricinfo - Records - in Australia - Twenty20 matches - High scores

Cricinfo - Records - in Australia - Twenty20 matches - Best bowling figures in an innings

Cricinfo - Records - in Australia - Twenty20 matches - Most catches

Cricinfo Australian Domestic Cricket Archive

Links to more information on the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash:

KFC Twenty20 Big Bash @ cricketworld.com



*Acknowledgements to Wikipedia.org and owners of pictures and videos used.