Robert Craddock

When they first started the big bash all those years ago, I remember reading the original document and they said, we believe state rivalries is fading.

And we live in a world now where kids have got the internet and it's a lot less passionate than it used to be.

Now, the object, the obvious unicorn to that is State of Origin Rugby League, which is still passionate.

But I got that point of view.

So to go back to a system where you want a Victorian team playing in the blue, I remember when they started the Big Bash, they said, don't use your own state colours.

That's why Queensland, the colour they hate most is blue because it's New South Wales.

The Brisbane Heat are in blue.

Yep.

But I just felt that this was, you know, going back in time.

Gerard, when you and I grew up, I think I was 18 years old before I read a copy of the Melbourne Papers, The Age or The Herald Sun, because there was no internet.

Papers didn't cross the border.

Rivalries were big.

But to suddenly start this Victorian team and expect people to rally behind it, I think you're really overlooking what the stars brought in particular.

The one thing you want in a competition is teams that people love, and the second thing is teams that people hate.

That was great with the Stars.

People got off on the fact they'd never won the competition.

They were the Collingwood of the Big Bash.

Even if you felt something towards them when they played, and that's so unusual in a T20 competition.

So the demise of the Stars particularly is very, very painful.

Well, it's so fragmented, Gerard, isn't it?