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What is the Salary of a Big Bash League player in Australia?

Today we will discuss the salary of a Big Bash League player in Australia.

Australia has won yet another Cricket World Cup. Can this victory inspire the Big Bash League to capture the public’s imagination and become the second-best league again after the IPL?

However, there’s one question on every cricket fan’s mind: just how much do these players make?

BBL Cricketer Salary – By the Numbers

  • The average salary of a Big Bash League player (BBL) is $166,667 AUD or $110,312 USD (maximum 18 players in squad with a purse of $3 million AUD or $1.99 million USD). The salary purse of a BBL team increased from $1.9 million AUD in the 2022-23 season to $3 million AUD in 2023-24.
  • The average salary for a domestic Big Bash League cricketer is $161,544 USD ($19,869,900 USD purse for a total of maximum 123 domestic players). The average salary for an overseas BBL cricketer is $196,667 USD ($4,130,000 USD for 21 overseas players that were picked in the BBL overseas draft).
  • Compared to other leagues, the BBL ranks at #4 in the richest cricket leagues (according to average salaries).
  • The average WBBL player earns about $48,800 AUD or $30,812 USD, which is about 3.5 times less than the men’s BBL counterpart.

Big Bash League (BBL) – How Much Was Each Draft Pick?

The overseas Big Bash League (BBL) draft was announced earlier this year.

The draft picks ranged from $100,000 AUD (Bronze) to $420,000 (Platinum). Teams also had the option to retain one player in the draft (The ‘Rashid Khan’ rule).

Draft PickSalary Amount
Platinum$420,000 AUD ($277,985 USD)
Gold$300,000 AUD ($198,561 USD)
Silver$200,000 AUD ($132,374 USD)
Bronze$100,000 AUD ($66,187 USD)

*Note, the conversion rate we used was as follows: $1 AUD = $0.66 USD as of 11/30/2023.

BBL Draft Picks – Salary of Big Bash League Player

1. Platinum Draft Pick ($277,985 USD)

  • Harry Brook* (Melbourne Stars), Rashid Khan (Adelaide Strikers), Chris Jordan (Hobart Hurricanes), Quinton de Kock (Melbourne Renegades), Alex Hales (Sydney Thunder), Tom Curran (Sydney Sixers), Colin Munro (Brisbane Heat)

Note: The Platinum Draft player salary will vary as per the availability of the player as follows:

  • Full Season – $420,000 AUD ($277,985 USD)
  • 10 Matches – $400,000 AUD ($264,748 USD)
  • 9 Matches – $380,000 AUD ($251,511 USD)
  • 8 Matches – $360,000 AUD ($238,273 USD)

*Gold, Silver, Bronze level players do not have a minimum number of matches requirement

2. Gold Draft Pick ($198,561 USD)

  • Haris Rauf (Melbourne Stars), Jamie Overton (Adelaide Strikers), Sam Hain (Hobart Hurricanes), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Melbourne Renegades), Zaman Khan (Sydney Thunder), James Vince (Sydney Sixers), Sam Billings (Brisbane Heat), Zak Crawley (Perth Scorchers)

3. Silver Draft Pick ($132,374 USD)

  • Laurie Evans (Perth Scorchers), Paul Walter (Brisbane Heat), Corey Anderson (Hobart Hurricanes)

4. Bronze Draft Pick ($66,187 USD)

  • Usama Mir (Melbourne Stars), Adam Hose (Adelaie Strikers), Rehan Ahmed (Sydney Sixers)

Also Read: What is the Salary of women cricketers in the WBBL in Australia?

*Note: Rashid Khan, Harry Brook, Pooran, Rehan Ahmed are some of the high profile withdrawals from the 2023-24 BBL season.

Final Thoughts

The Big Bash League players in Australia will be making, on average, more money than they have in the years past.

The popularity of the BBL has drastically reduced over the years, and they are trying to make amends by luring the top players with more compensation.

The average salary for a professional cricketer in the BBL now ranges from $66,000 to $280,000 USD. Will this be enough to fend off competition from the SA20 & ILT20 and more importantly, will the crowds come back?

Only time will tell.

Sources: Australia BBL WBBL news – Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Stars win WBBL and BBL draft lotteries | ESPNcricinfo, BBL|13 Overseas player draft: the full list | cricket.com.au, LIVE – WBBL and BBL overseas player drafts | ESPNcricinfo, Big Bash 2023-24 squads: Full BBL13 player list for all teams | The Cricketer, All you need to know about the BBL and WBBL overseas players draft

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Big Bash League (BBL) player in Australia?

The average salary of a Big Bash League (BBL) player is $166,667 AUD or $110,312 USD. Each BBL team has a purse of $3 million AUD for 18 players total.

Is the Big Bash League (BBL) the richest cricket league in the world?

No, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is the richest cricket league in the world. The BBL is the fourth richest cricket league in the world (based on average player salary).

Who was the most expensive player in the overseas BBL draft?

Harry Brook* (Melbourne Stars), Rashid Khan (Adelaide Strikers), Chris Jordan (Hobart Hurricanes), Quinton de Kock (Melbourne Renegades), Alex Hales (Sydney Thunder), Tom Curran (Sydney Sixers), Colin Munro (Brisbane Heat). They each have the potential to earn up to $420,000 AUD ($277,985 USD) based on their season availability.

© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, LLC 2023. Originally published on 11/30/2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).

How Many Cricket Leagues Are There in the World? Complete List of International Cricket Leagues and Franchise Competitions: T20, T10, and More!

How many cricket leagues are there in the world?

2023 seems to be a watershed moment for franchise cricket leagues—SA 20, IL T20, MLC 2023, Zim Afro T10, and the revival of Global T20 Canada.

Feel like you can’t keep track anymore? Well don’t worry, we are here to help you.

Key Takeaways

  • There are 15 professional leagues in cricket, from which 13 are franchise leagues and two are domestic T20 competitions that attract a variety of overseas stars (Vitality Blast, Super Smash). From the 13 franchise leagues, two are T10, one is in the ‘hundred’ format, while the other 10 are twenty20 competitions.
  • In 2023, October is the only without any major cricket league competition since October 5 – November 19 is reserved for the 2023 ODI World Cup.
  • From November 23, 2022 to September 24, 2023, there were only 20 days where franchise cricket was not scheduled (December 5-12, March 19-30).
  • If we count all the date ranges for the 15 major T20 tournaments, there were 509 days of cricket (greater than 365 because several leagues are now overlapping with each other. Also domestic tournaments like the Vitality blast tend to be spread out longer with breaks. Actual cricket might not be played every day).

Cricket Leagues Calendar – By Season

  • November-February: Abu Dhabi T10, Big Bash League (BBL), Super Smash, Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), South Africa T20 (SA T20), International League T20 (ILT20)
  • February-May: Pakistan Super League (PSL), Indian Premier League (IPL)
  • May-July: The Vitality Blast (also good time for a World Cup window), TNPL
  • July-September: Major League Cricket, Global T20 Canada, The Hundred, Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Shpageeza Cricket League*, Road Safety World Series, Maharaja T20 Trophy
  • October: Window for world tournament (or…Champions League), Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

*not held every year

Also Read: The Need For Champions League & a T20 League Calendar, How Much Do Different Types of Cricketers Earn Per Year (2022)? Salaries of Pujara, Stokes, Warner, Billings, Tim David Revealed!

List of Cricket Leagues: Top 15 Franchise, T10, & T20 Competitions

*Note: The date ranges are either from last year or the upcoming 2023 season if it has not happened yet. We first start with the Abu Dhabi T10 league from November 2022.

1. Abu Dhabi T10: November 23 – December 4

  • Country: United Arab Emirates (UAE)
  • Number of Seasons Played: 6 (2017-)
  • Number of Teams: 8

Days played: 12

Embed from Getty Images

2. Big Bash League (BBL): December 13 – February 4

  • Country: Australia
  • Number of Seasons Played: 12 (2011-)
  • Number of Teams: 8

Days Played: 54

Embed from Getty Images

3. Super Smash: December 23 – February 11

  • Country: New Zealand
  • Number of Seasons Played: 18
  • Number of Teams: 6

Days Played: 51

Embed from Getty Images

4. Bangladesh Premier League (BPL): January 6 – February 16

  • Country: Bangladesh
  • Number of Seasons Played: 9 (2012-)
  • Number of Teams: 7

Days Played: 42

Embed from Getty Images

5. South Africa 20 (SA20): January 10 – February 12

  • Country: South Africa
  • Number of Seasons Played: 1 (2023-)
  • Number of Teams: 6

Days Played: 34

6. International League T20 (ILT20): January 13 – February 12

  • Country: South Africa
  • Number of Seasons Played: 1 (2023-)
  • Number of Teams: 6

Days Played: 31

Embed from Getty Images

7. Pakistan Super League (PSL): February 13 – March 18

  • Country: Pakistan
  • Number of Seasons Played: 8 (2016-)
  • Number of Teams: 6

Days Played: 34

Embed from Getty Images

8. Indian Premier League (IPL): March 31 – May 29

  • Country: India
  • Number of Seasons Played: 16 (2008-)
  • Number of Teams: 10

Days Played: 60

Embed from Getty Images

9. T20 Vitality Blast: May 20 – July 15

  • Country: England and Wales
  • Number of Seasons Played: 21 (2003-)
  • Number of Teams: 18

Days Played: 57

Embed from Getty Images

10. Major League Cricket (MLC): July 13 – July 30

  • Country: United States
  • Number of Seasons Played: 1 (2023-)
  • Number of Teams: 6

Days Played: 18

Embed from Getty Images

11. Global T20 Canada (GLT20): July 20 – August 6

  • Country: Canada
  • Number of Seasons Played: 3 (2018-)
  • Number of Teams: 6

Days Played: 18

Embed from Getty Images

12. Zim Afro T10 League: July 21 – July 29

  • Country: Canada
  • Number of Seasons Played: 1 (2023-)
  • Number of Teams: 5

Days Played: 9

Zimbabwe Afro T10 League: Irfan Pathan bowling in the newest league around.

13. Lanka Premier League (LPL): July 30 – August 20

  • Country: Sri Lanka
  • Number of Seasons Played: 4 (2020-)
  • Number of Teams: 5

Days Played: 22

Embed from Getty Images

14. The Hundred: August 1 – August 27

  • Country: England and Wales
  • Number of Seasons Played: 3 (2021-)
  • Number of Teams: 8

Days Played: 27

Embed from Getty Images

15. Caribbean Premier League (CPL): August 16 – September 24

  • Country: West Indies
  • Number of Seasons Played: 10 (2013-)
  • Number of Teams: 6

Days Played: 40

Embed from Getty Images

Honorable Mentions: Other Cricket Leagues & T20 Competitions

16. Shpageeza Cricket League: July 18 – August 5

  • Country: Afghanistan
  • Number of Seasons Played: 5 (2016-)
  • Number of Teams: 8

Days Played: 19

*has not been held consistently every year

17. Road Safety World Series T20 League: September 10 – October 1

  • Country: India
  • Number of Seasons Played: 2 (2020-)
  • Number of Teams: 8

Days Played: 22

*leagues for retired legends

Embed from Getty Images

18. Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL): June 12 – July 12

  • Country: India
  • Number of Seasons Played: 7 (2016-)
  • Number of Teams: 8

Days Played: 31

*regional T20 league

19. Karnataka Premier League (Maharaja Trophy T20): August 14 – August 30

  • Country: India
  • Number of Seasons Played: 8 (2009-)
  • Number of Teams: 6

Days Played: 17

*regional T20 league

20. Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: October 16 – November 6

  • Country: India
  • Number of Seasons Played: 15 (2006-)
  • Number of Teams: 38

Days Played: 22

*domestic T20 league, but gaining prominence over the years

List of Defunct Cricket Leagues

  • Euro T20 Slam, Mzansi Super League (South Africa), KFC Twenty20 Big Bash (Australia), Inter-Provincial Twenty20 (Sri Lanka), Stanford 20/20 (West Indies)

Final Thoughts

Leagues are propping everywhere, World Cups are now sandwiched between the leagues, and bilateral cricket is going nowhere.

The ODI Super League is now extinct (although Netherlands’ brilliance might force a rethink), the World Test Championship shows promise, but could be improved. The haphazard year-around schedule impacts logistics, mental health, injury management, and causes early retirements.

Until a stable international cricket calendar is formed, we will have to form the cricket calendar according to the franchise leagues, with the Indian Premier League in the center as the marquee event.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many T20 leagues are there in cricket?

There are 15 T20 leagues in cricket – 10 T20 franchise leagues, 2 T10 leagues, 1 ‘hundred’ ball tournament, and 2 domestic T20 competitions.

How many franchise leagues are there in cricket?

There are 13 franchise leagues in cricket (10 T20, 2 T10, and The Hundred).

Photo Courtesy: © Zim Afro T10 (Irfan Pathan bowling in the Zimbabwe Afro T10 League competition – #12)

© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, LLC 2023. Originally published on 07/25/2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).

Big Bash League 2021 (BBL 2021): Everything You Need To Know Quickly—Teams, Fixtures, & Predictions

Big Bash League (BBL 2021)—The Australian T20 League is back.

Australia is coming back from a victorious T20 World Cup campaign with a backdrop of Tim Paine’s scandal and an Ashes running in the background.

The first match of the Big Bash is already upon us. Glenn Maxwell’s Melbourne Stars suffered a horror loss by a mammoth 152 runs. If this game is anything to go by…we are going to be in for a long journey.

Here is everything you need to know about BBL 2021 quickly.

Also Read: What Can Ellyse Perry Not Do?

Quick Summary

  • Matches: 61 (8 teams, 14 matches each, double round robin, top 5 qualify for the playoffs)
  • Teams: Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars, Perth Scorchers, Sydney Sixers, Sydney Thunders
  • Dates: December 5th 2021- January 28th, 2022
  • Venues: City: Stadium (Number of Matches)
    • Adelaide: Adelaide Oval (7)
    • Brisbane: The Gabba (5)
    • Canberra: Manuka Oval (2)
    • Coffs Harbour: Coffs Harbour International Stadium (2)
    • Geelong: Kardinia Park (also known as GMHBA) (2)
    • Gold Coast: Carrara Stadium (2)
    • Hobart: Bellerive Oval (also known as Blundstone Arena) (5)
    • Launceston: York Park (University of Tasmania Stadium) (2)
    • Melbourne: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) (6), Docklands Stadium (also known as Marvel Stadium) (5), Junction Oval (1)
    • Perth: Perth Stadium (7)
    • Sydney: Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) (5), Sydney Showground Stadium (5)
  • Fixtures can be seen here.

History

  1. Sydney Sixers: 2011, 2015, 2019, 2020 (Winners), 2014, 2016 (Runner-Up)
  2. Perth Scorchers: 2013, 2014, 2016 (Winners), 2011, 2012, 2020 (Runner-Up)
  3. Adelaide Strikers: 2017 (Winners)
  4. Brisbane Heat: 2012 (Winners)
  5. Melbourne Renegades: 2018 (Winners)
  6. Sydney Thunders: 2015 (Winners)
  7. Melbourne Stars: 2015, 2018, 2019 (Runner-Up)
  8. Hobart Hurricanes: 2013, 2017 (Runner-Up)

BBL 2021: Teams & Expected Playing XI

Before we begin with the BBL 2021 squads, here are the Ashes squad for the first two Tests as well as the Australia A squad that is due to face the England Lions between Tests. In case of conflicts, several players might miss some of their Big Bash matches.

We might also see some early overseas signings replaced due to COVID, Australian quarantine rules, and visa issues.

Ashes XI

  1. David Warner, 2. Marcus Harris, 3. Marnus Labuschagne, 4. Steven Smith 9VC), 5. Travis Head, 6. Cameron Green, 7. Alex Carey (WK), 8. Pat Cummins (C), 9. Josh Hazlewood, 10. Mitchell Starc, 11. Nathan Lyon

Squad: 12. Michael Neser, 13. Jhye Richarson, 14. Mitchell Swepson, 15. Usman Khawaja

Australia A Squad (December 9-12 Tour Game)

  1. Matt Renshaw, 2. Josh Inglis (WK), 3. Nic Maddinson, 4. Mitchell Marsh, 5. Alex Carey (WK), 6. Ashton Agar, 7. Henry Hunt, 8. Bryce Street, 9. Sean Abbott, 10. Scott Boland, 11. Mark Steketee

*Teams highlighted in their respective jersey colors

Adelaide Strikers

Captain: Travis Head (C), Alex Carey (VC/WK)

  • Australia Internationals: Peter Siddle, Matt Renshaw, Fawad Ahmed, Daniel Worrall (3 ODIs), Wes Agar (2 ODIs)
  • Australia Domestic: Jake Weatherald, Harry Conway, Ryan Gibson, Spencer Johnson, Harry Nielsen (WK), Liam O’Connor, Liam Scott, Matthew Short, Jonathan Wells
  • Foreign Recruits: Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), Phil Salt, George Garton (England)

Coaching Staff: Jason Gillespie

I am looking forward to Peter Siddle and Rashid Khan. It is the time of the year where Siddle’s energy flows through and Rashid Khan’s presence is enough to send fears to the opposition camp.

Adelaide Strikers Expected XI:

  1. Phil Salt, 2. Jake Weatherald, 3. Travis Head/Alex Carey (C), 4. Matt Renshaw, 5. Ryan Gibson, 6. Jonathan Wells, 7. Michael Neser, 8. George Garton, 9. Rashid Khan, 10. Fawad Ahmed, 11. Peter Siddle

Predicted Result: 7th

Brisbane Heat

Captain: Jimmy Peirson (WK)

  • Australia Internationals: Marnus Labuschagne, Chris Lynn, Michael Neser, Mitchell Swepson, Sam Heazlett (1 ODI), Jack Wildermuth (1 T20I)
  • Australia Domestic: Xavier Bartlett, James Bazley, Max Bryant, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mark Steketee, Connor Sully, Matthew Willans, Liam Guthrie, Will Prestwisdge
  • Foreign Recruits: Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Tom Abell (England), Tom Cooper (Netherlands), Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Coaching Staff: Wade Seccombe

I am looking forward to the foreign recruits. Ben Duckett was the find of The Hundred, and Mujeeb and Banton are match winners on their day.

Brisbane Heat Expected XI:

1. Chris Lynn, 2. Max Bryant/Labuschagne/Banton, 3. Ben Duckett, 4. Sam Heazlett, 5. Jack Wildurmuth, 6. Jimmy Pierson, 7. James Bazley/Michael Neser, 8. Xavier Bartlett, 9. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 10. Matthew Kuhnemann, 11. Liam Guthrie/Mitchell Swepson

Predicted Result: 8th

Hobart Hurricanes

Captain: Matthew Wade (C/WK)

  • Australia Internationals: Scott Boland, Nathan Ellis, James Faulkner, Peter Handscomb, Ben McDermott (WK), Riley Meredith, D’arcy Short
  • Australia Domestic: Jake Doan (WK), Caleb Jewell, David Moody, Mitchell Owen, Wil Parker, Aaron Summers, Charlier Wakim, Nick Winter, Macalister Wright, Jordan Thompson
  • Foreign Recruits: Tim David (Singapore), Johan Botha (now domestic Australian player), Colin Ingram (South Africa), Dawid Malan, Will Jacks, Harry Brook (England), Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal), Keemo Paul (West Indies)

Coaching Staff: Adam Griffith

I am looking forward to World Cup star Matthew Wade. Finally rising to the international stage, can he take Hobart to their first BBL? Also watch out for Tim David from Singapore, who is making his name in T20 leagues around the world.

Hobart Hurricanes Expected XI:

1. Matthew Wade, 2. D’Arcy Short, 3. Colin Ingram/Dawid Malan, 4. Peter Handscomb, 5. Ben McDermott, 6. Tim David, 7. James Faulkner, 8. Scott Boland, 9. Nathan Ellis, 10. Riley Meredith, 11. Sandeep Lamichhane

Predicted Result: 1st/Winners

Melbourne Renegades

Captain: Nic Maddinson

  • Australia Internationals: Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, Marcus Harris, Cameron Boyce, James Pattinson (retired from international duty), Kane Richardson
  • Australia Domestic: Zak Evans, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sam Harper, Mackenzie Harvey, Josh Lalor, Jonathan Merlo, Jack Prestwidge, Will Sutherland, Mitch Perry
  • Foreign Recruits: Mohammad Nabi, Zahir Khan (Afghanistan), Reece Topley (England), Unmukt Chand (USA/ ex-India)

Coaching Staff: David Saker

I am looking forward to James Pattinson, Shaun Marsh, and Mohammad Nabi. These three are at the end of their careers, and I hope they still have a couple of good years in them. Also curious if Melbourne will play Unmukt Chand or if it is only to lure future Indian cricketers.

Melbourne Renegades Expected XI:

1. Aaron Finch, 2. Shaun Marsh, 3. Nic Maddinson, 4. Jake Fraser-McGurk, 5. Mackenzie Harvey, 6. Mohammad Nabi, 7. Kane Richardson, 8. James Pattinson, 9. Reece Topley, 10. Zahir Khan, 11. Cameron Boyce

Predicted Result: 3rd

Melbourne Stars

Captain: Glenn Maxwell (C), Marcus Stoinis (VC)

  • Australia Internationals: Joe Burns, Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa, Billy Stanlake, Will Pucovski, Peter Nevill (WK)
  • Australia Domestic: Jackson Coleman, Seb Gotch (WK), Liam Hatcher, Clint Hinchliffe, Nick Larkin, Lance Morris, Tom O’Connell, Sam Rainbird, Beau Webster, Sam Elliot, Brody Couch
  • Foreign Recruits: Qais Ahmed (Afghanistan), Syed Faridoun (Pakistan), Joe Clarke (England)

Coaching Staff: David Hussey

I am looking forward to the Australian international regiment. Maxwell, Stoinis, Zampa won’t be missing much due to the Ashes and they are in red hot form. Hope they rebound from the first game.

Melbourne Stars Expected XI:

  1. Marcus Stoinis, 2. Joe Clarke, 3. Joe Burns, 4. Nick Larkin, 5. Glenn Maxwell (C), 6. Hilton Cartwright, 7. Peter Neville (WK), 8. Nathan Coulter-Nile, 9. Syed Faridoun/Qais Ahmed, 10. Billy Stanlake, 11. Adam Zampa

Predicted Result: 6th

Perth Scorchers

Captain: Ashton Turner

  • Australia Internationals: Mitchell Marsh, Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft (WK), Jason Behrendorff, Jhye Richardson, Andrew Tye, Cameron Green, Kurtis Patterson (2 Tests), Joel Paris (2 ODIs)
  • Australia Domestic: Josh Inglis (WK), Peter Hatzoglou, Matthew Kelly, Cooper Connolly, Aaron Hardie, Nick Hobson
  • Foreign Recruits: Colin Munro (New Zealand), Laurie Evans (England), Cameron Gannon (USA international/Australia domestic)

Coaching Staff: Adam Voges

I am looking forward to Josh Inglis. Alex Carey barely pipped him to the Ashes spot but he will be there for Australia A game. Can he warm up with some BBL runs? You can never count Perth Scorchers out.

Perth Scorchers Expected XI:

1. Josh Inglis (WK), 2. Cameron Bancroft, 3. Mitchell Marsh, 4. Colin Munro,, 6. Ashton Agar, 7. Cameron Green, 8. Jhye Richardson/Jason Behrendorff, 9. Andrew Tye, 10. Joel Paris, 11. Kurtis Patterson

Predicted Result: 2nd

Sydney Sixers

Captain: Moises Henriques (C), Daniel Hughes (VC)

  • Australia Internationals: Dan Christian, Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Nathon Lyon, Steve O’Keefe, Josh Philippe (WK)
  • Australia Domestic: Jordan Silk, Ben Dwarshuis, Hayden Kerr, Jack Edwards, Mickey Edwards, Benjamin Manenti, Lloyd Pope
  • Foreign Recruits: Carlos Brathwaite (injured), Chris Jordan (West Indies), Tom Curran, James Vince (England)

Coaching Staff: Greg Shipperd

I am looking forward to James Vince and Tom Curran. Vince has the Big Bash to thank for his England return last year and both Curran-Vince needs good BBLs to make it the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.

Sydney Sixers Expected XI:

  1. Josh Philippe (WK), 2. James Vince, 3. Moises Henriques (C), 4. Dan Christian, 5. Tom Curran, 6. Jordan Silk, 7. Daniel Hughes, 8. Sean Abbott, 9. Hayden Kerr, 10. Chris Jordan, 11. Steve O’Keefe

Predicted Result: 5th

Sydney Thunder

Captain: Usman Khawaja

  • Australia Internationals: Ben Cutting, Daniel Sams, Chris Tremain (4 ODIs)
  • Australia Domestic: Chris Green, Jason Sangha, Baxter Holt (WK), Oliver Davies, Brendan Doggett, Matthew Gilkes (WK), Arjun Nair, Alex Ross, Tanveer Sangha, Sam Whiteman, Gurinder Sandhu, Jonathon Cook
  • Foreign Recruits: Alex Hales, Sam Billings (WK), Saqib Mahmood (England) (Adam Milne – NZ)

Coaching Staff: Trevor Bayliss

I am looking forward to The English foreign brigade. Alex Hales at the top, Sam Billings to finish it off and Saqib Mahmood with the pace. Also much to prove for captain Usman Khawaja since Travis Head was picked as Australia’s #5 for the Ashes.

Sydney Thunder Expected XI:

1. Usman Khawaja (C), 2. Alex Hales, 3. Sam Whiteman, 4. Matthew Gilkes, 5. Sam Billings (WK), 6. Alex Ross, 7. Daniel Sams, 8. Ben Cutting, 9. Chris Green, 10. Gurinder Sandhu, 11. Tanveer Sangha

Predicted Result: 4th

Big Bash League 2021 (BBL 2021) Predictions

Finally here are my predictions.

My prediction for the team to lift the BBL 2021 trophy is….Hobart Hurricanes!

  • Most Runs: Josh Philippe
  • Most Wickets: James Pattinson
  • MVP: Matthew Wade
  • Emerging Player: Tanveer Sangha/Jake Fraser-McGurk
  • Surprise Package: Johan Botha
  • Broken Cricket Dream: Most Australian internationals miss BBL for the Ashes; most internationals lose out due to COVID; crowd skips the tournament altogether

Here were my Big Bash League – BBL 2021 Predictions. What did you think? What are YOUR predictions? Comment Below!

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© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, 2021. Originally published on 12/05/2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).

The Need For Champions League & a T20 League Calendar

A new “Ninety-90 Bash” league has been sanctioned in the UAE.

PSL finished its post-COVID leg of the tournament, and the IPL will soon have its post-COVID leg in the UAE ending just a few days before the T20 World Cup begins. The BCCI has even proposed a 10-team IPL or two IPLs in a year from next year.

Where does this stop? T10 & T20 leagues are popping left and right. Tournaments beginning, stopping, and resuming whenever they feel like. What is the result? Debatable rotation policies, career-threatening injuries, early retirements, and players choosing leagues over international cricket.

Also Read: Babar Azam, Rizwan, Shaheen: The Case for Pakistan Players In the IPL, The World Is Back In the Cricket World Cup

Champions League – What Went Wrong ?

Champions League T20 (CLT20) was an intriguing experiment held between 2009-2014 that unearthed stars like Kieron Pollard. Modeled on European football, what could possibly go wrong when the best T20 teams in the world competed together?

Yet, even with such good intentions, the tournament failed—Cluttered international calendar, revenue shortfall, growing success of the IPL, and the initial failure of other leagues were prominent factors.

The strength of the IPL contract meant that if a player represented multiple teams that qualified, they would be obligated to play for their IPL team.

By 2013-14, it was evident that the Indian Premier League was miles ahead. In 2013 (MI vs RR) & 2014 (CSK vs KKR) editions, both finalists were IPL teams. In 2014, 3 out of the 4 semifinalists were IPL teams (KXIP). The domestic teams from Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, West Indies, Sri Lanka, and South Africa failed to get this far after a decent show between 2009-2012.

CLT20 catered towards the IPL, and that is why it failed.

Why is the Revival of the Champions League Needed?

Seven years later, it is time to rethink the T20 calendar. The Big Bash is now a decade old. CPL & BPL are 8 years strong. PSL is 5 years old, and even Sri Lanka, South Africa, and England have formed stable leagues.

Half a decade ago, there were just a few T20 specialists—Brendon McCullum, Brad Hodge, AB De Villiers, Yusuf Pathan, and the World Cup winning West Indies generation. Now we have T20 specialists everywhere like Babar Azam, Tom Banton, Finn Allen, Dawid Malan, Tim Seifert, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, James Vince, Alex Hales, Paul Stirling, David Wiese, Rovman Powell—talented players that do not make the XI or even squads of the IPL teams.

Last year, Trinbago Knight Riders were undefeated to their CPL title –12 consecutive wins. Imagine a TKR versus Mumbai Indians Champions League battle? Will be a cracker of the contest if it is a fair contest—Which team does Trinbago’s captain Pollard play for?

How Can The International and T20 Calendar Coexist?

Here are some possible solutions:

  1. If the player is contracted by a national team, they should be obligated to represent their domestic T20 league in case of a conflict. Hence, Pollard would play for TKR instead of MI.
  2. For a nationally contracted player, maximum of 3 leagues per year should be enforced. This would keep conflicts to a minimum.
  3. Boards should accept responsibility and postpone the league till next year’s window in case the league is suspended.

This would lead to an interesting mix of international players in the leagues. Since NZ/Australia do not play much between June-October, players might choose IPL-the Hundred/CPL-BBL, while English players might choose PSL-IPL-The Hundred.

The Ideal Cricket Calendar

ICC has announced its tournament calendar for the next eight years. Each year, either a T20 WC, ODI WC, World Test Championship Final, or Champions Trophy will occur. A couple of months should be sidelined as the pinnacle of the international calendar.

Here is how the T20 calendar stands so far:

CountryTournamentMonthsYears
Bangladesh Bangladesh Premier League (BPL)January – February 2012-
PakistanPakistan Super League (PSL)February – March2016-
IndiaIndian Premier League (IPL)March – May2008-
CanadaGlobal T20 Canada (GT20)June – July2018-
England T20 Vitality Blast July – September 2003-
EnglandThe HundredJuly – August2021-
West IndiesCaribbean Premier League (CPL)August – September2013-
AfghanistanShpageeza Cricket League/
Afghanistan Premier League (APL)
September – October2013-
2018-
United Arab Emirates (UAE)T10 LeagueNovember – December2017 –
Sri LankaLanka Premier League (LPL)November – December2020-
South AfricaMzansi Super League (MSL)November – December2018-
New ZealandSuper SmashDecember – January2005-
AustraliaBig Bash League (BBL)December – February 2011 –

If the Champions League needs to be revived, September-October is an ideal month subject to the dates of world tournaments that year.

The debate between T20 leagues and international cricket is over. The leagues are here to stay, so why not coexist in a peaceful manner? At the moment, everything is disorganized, so why not organize it for the greater good of cricket.

Champions League History (2009-2014)

YearHost# of Teams
(# of Nations)
WinnersRunners-UpTeams
2009India12 (7)New South Wales (AUS)Trinidad and Tobago (WI)New South Wales, Victorian Bushrangers (AUS)
Sussex Sharks, Somerset Sabres (ENG)
Deccan Chargers, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Daredevils (IND)
Otago Volts (NZ)
Cape Cobras, Diamond Eagles (SA)
Trinidad and Tobago (WI)
Wayamba (SL)
2010South Africa10 (6)Chennai Super Kings (IND)Warriors (SA)Victorian Bushrangers, Southern Redbacks (AUS)
Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore (IND)
Central Districts Stags (NZ)
Warriors, Highveld Lions (SA)
Wayamba Elevens (SL)
Guyana (WI)
2011India10 (5)Mumbai Indians (IND)Royal Challengers Bangalore (IND)Southern Redbacks, New South Wales Blues (AUS)
Somerset (England)
Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians (IND)
Warriors, Cape Cobras (SA)
Trinidad and Tobago (WI)
2012South Africa13 (8)Sydney Sixers (AUS)Lions (SA)Perth Scorchers, Sydney Sixers (AUS)
Yorkshire Carnegie, Hampshire Royals (Eng)
Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians (IND)
Auckland Aces (NZ)
Sialkot Stallions (Pak)
Highveld Lions, Titans (SA)
Uva Next (SL)
Trinidad and Tobago (WI)
2013India12 (7)Mumbai Indians (IND)Rajasthan Royals (IND)Brisbane Heat, Perth Scorchers (AUS)
Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad (IND)
Otago Volts (NZ)
Faisalabad Wolves (PAK)
Kandurata Maroons (SL)
Highveld Lions, Titans (SA)
Trinidad and Tobago (WI)
2014India12 (7)Chennai Super Kings (IND)Kolkata Knight Riders (IND)Perth Scorchers, Hobart Hurricanes (AUS)
Kolkata Knight Riders, Kings XI Punjab, Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians (IND)
Northern Knights (NZ)
Lahore Lions (PAK)
Dolphins, Cape Cobras (SA)
Southern Express (SL)
Barbados Tridents (WI)

Image Courtesy: ESPNCricinfo

Copyright @Nitesh Mathur, Broken Cricket Dreams 06/24/2021. Email: bcd@brokencricketdreams.com