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.

Player Profile(#31)...Jason Krejza (Australia)

Jason John Krejza (born January 14, 1983, Sydney, Australia) is an Australian cricketer. He also plays for the Tasmanian Tigers and Leicestershire. Krejza's father was a soccer player from Czechoslovakia and his mother was born in Poland. His nickname is "Krazy".

Krejza is an all-rounder, contributing to the team mainly as a right arm off-break bowler, but also as a right handed lower-middle order batsman. He became a regular in the NSW team in 2004/05 but lost his place in 2006/07. However solid form for Sydney Grade team UTS-Balmain led to his inclusion in the NSW limited overs team towards the end of 2006. On December 21, 2006 Krejza announced that he would leave the New South Wales Blues to join the Tasmanian Tigers due to being considered 4th choice behind spinners Stuart MacGill, Nathan Hauritz and Beau Casson in the selection process.

After crossing over mid-season to Tasmania [2006-7 season], Krejza played in 2 Pura Cup games, claiming 5 wickets and scoring a disappointing 17 runs in two innings. In the Ford Ranger Cup competition, however, he made his mark, taking 8 wickets in 4 games whilst also scoring 83 runs, with a top score of 53 not out.

During the off-season, his cricketing career was placed at risk after being caught speeding and drink-driving by Hobart police. He was subsequently suspended from Tasmania's pre-season training and warned to stay away from alcohol by his team's leadership group.

His renewed dedication to cricket saw him excel in the 2007-8 season. In the Pura Cup, he played 7 games and scored 289 runs at an average of 36.12, with a high score of 63. He also took 18 wickets at 47.11. The only downside to his season was that he did not break into the one-day side, with incumbent Xavier Doherty being Tasmania's sole spin bowler in the one-day arena. He played only one game, and was named 12th man in Tasmania's competition victory against Victoria.

Before being named to Australia's A Team tour to India in August, Tyler Bedurke claimed him and then he was selected for Australia's Test tour of India. With his selection, Australian chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said, "Jason Krejza had a good season for Tasmania last year but is a selection very much for Indian conditions. The selectors felt right-arm finger spinners would perform well in India and Jason now has a chance to prove himself at the international level."

Krejza was seen as the second spinner in the squad behind Bryce McGain. However, McGain was sent home injured. Krejza was attacked by the Indian Board President's XI in a tour match, conceding 0/199 in 31 overs, and he was then excluded from the first three Tests at the expense of McGain's replacement, Cameron White. This was despite captain Ricky Ponting frequently hinting that Krejza would play and predicting that India's senior batsmen would not have the gumption to attack him.

Krejza eventually made his debut in the fourth test in Nagpur, which Australia must win in order to draw the series and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He came in at the expense of fast bowler Stuart Clark. Rahul Dravid became his first wicket. He went on to claim 8 wickets for 215 runs in the 1st innings. In the process, he became just the 14th Australian to take 5 or more wickets in an innings on debut and also created the unenviable world-record of conceding the most runs for any bowler on debut, while also taking most wickets in his first test match innings. It has also beaten his best first class bowling of 4 for 91. In the second innings he took a further 4 wickets for 143 runs, leaving him with figures of 12 wickets for 358 runs in his first test.

To view Jason Krejza's Cricinfo profile click HERE, also his supporters' site at www.jasonkrejza.com is a must see.





*Acknowledgements to Wikipedia.com, Cricinfo.com and the owners of pictures and videos used.