Introducing private equity into Australian cricket is almost certainly a bad idea.

So I read with interest that Cricket Australia has been advised to sell part of the Big Bash League.

The decision to sell Big Bash teams is not straight-forward.Credit: Getty Images

This isn’t the first time privatisation has been floated, so it’s worth exploring whether the logic from the first go-around on this issue, in 2011, has changed. Has the cheese been dislodged from the mousetrap?

Though the report from the Boston Consulting Group is not public – I hope that changes – we can surmise what the arguments in favour of privatisation are.

They can be broken down into three main categories: “FOMO”, or fear of missing out; Cricket Australia’s finances; and cricket politics.

Let’s start with finances.

The arguments for:

Cricket Australia certainly has a challenge to grow revenue. Its commercial revenue – sponsorship, ticketing, hospitality etc – has been flat over the past five years, and its domestic media rights deal is essentially flat until 2031. Selling stakes in BBL teams will deliver an infusion of cash.

The problem is that selling capital assets such as the BBL is a one-off. It sacrifices future revenue for a lump sum today. Since CA’s costs won’t reduce, it will still need that revenue in future years.

The only way to do........

© The Sydney Morning Herald