“Hmm, why?” was my initial reaction but let’s be real here, it’s the bloody Big Bash League – innovation, innovation, innovation… and a whole lot of family fun. So, to switch out the traditional coin toss in this season’s BBL with the backyard cricket bat flip isn’t completely out of left field.
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Although, it’ll probably piss off a couple of punters.
As the ABC reports, the bat flip will have skippers call “hills” or “flats” instead of “heads” or “tails” to decide who bats or bowls first.
“For me it’s a great moment which reflects what BBL is about,” BBL head Kim McConnie told the ABC. “If you think about a coin toss it’s not really what kids do. If you’re out in the backyard what do you do? You toss the bat to decide.”
In a lot of cases, the ol’ bat flip naturally ends with it landing on its flat side which would be pretty unfair on the other team but in the BBL, they’ll be tossing a modified bat to ensure 50-50 fairness.
McConnie described this piece of innovation as a “specially weighted bat”, produced by the expert bat makers at Kookaburra.
“This is a tested and weighted bat to deliver that equity,” she said.
Though McConnie is well aware the bat flip will have its critics, she believes it’ll make the game “much more relevant to families.”
“We are creating a moment which is much more fitting with kids.”
The BBL will kick off on December 19 at the Gabba with hosts, the Brisbane Heat taking on defending champs, the Adelaide Strikers. Brisbane’s new skipper Chris Lynn will give the modified bat its inaugural flip.
You can grab your tickets to the BBL and WBBL, HERE.
