Five of the 12 available ‘platinum’ players in the inaugural BBL draft went unselected in a major curveball for Cricket Australia (CA).
Under the rules of the new draft, players are categorised according to ability and must be paid accordingly – top-tier platinum stars are pegged to earn $340,000 for the season.
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But with many of the elite players on offer having only limited availability, BBL clubs baulked at the chance to give out $1.7 million to international T20 superstars Faf Du Plessis, Jason Roy, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo.
Instead, they opted for players who could feature for the entire tournament, making England dynamo Liam Livingstone the No.1 pick of the draft.
The absences of Du Plessis, Roy, and particularly Pollard, Russell and Bravo is a major blow for CA, which had hoped the BBL draft would attract big names to the league to reinvigorate it.
The absence of Dwayne Bravo is a major blow for Cricket Australia. Credit: Ashley Allen/Getty ImagesInstead, it has denied them.
Alarm bells will be ringing at CA; not just because of the desperately needed increase in interest and crowds with which the five missing stars would have come, but also the reason for their unavailability.
More lucrative T20 leagues in South Africa and the UAE take place in a similar part of the calendar.
Players had to make their availability known before the draft, and with the South African and UAE leagues crossing over with the latter part of the BBL, drafting the likes of Pollard and Russell wasn’t a viable strategic play.
Faf Du Plessis won’t be at BBL12. Credit: Stu Forster/Getty ImagesNeither will Kieron Pollard. Credit: Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesThere have been suggestions that Cricket Australia should have foreseen this possibility and made ‘pro-rata’ contracts available, giving teams the opportunity to only pay for what they get from players with limited availability, and direct the rest of the money elsewhere.
“Well you’re looking for continuity through the season,” former Test skipper and Hobart’s head of strategy Ricky Ponting said when asked about the tactics involved in selecting players.
“The challenge the BBL teams have faced the last few years has been the international players coming in and out.
“You get two or three games out of one, and then you have to try to fill that slot with someone of a similar role and ability, and that’s pretty hard to do.
“And if these players are coming in and out, you’ve got to have money to fill their voids as well. When you’re trying to balance the salary cap, it’s not easy to do.”
Following Livingstone’s selection by the Melbourne Renegades at No.1, the Stars used their prized second pick to nominate Rashid Khan, but the Adelaide Strikers exercised their retention pick to keep the star Afghanistan spinner.
Rashid Khan has been a star for the Adelaide Strikers. Credit: DARREN ENGLAND/AAPIMAGE“I was thinking of Darryl Kerrigan, ‘tell him he’s dreaming’,” Strikers coach Jason Gillespie joked in reference to the famous 1997 Australian movie The Castle.
“Our plan was always to retain Rashid. Wonderful player, wonderful person. He’s been brilliant for our franchise over a number of years, and absolutely delighted to have him back.”
The Stars turned to plan B to select star New Zealand paceman Trent Boult.
The Brisbane Heat used pick No.3 to lure Englishman Sam Billings, with the Sydney Thunder deciding against using their retention pick.
Sixers coach Greg Shipperd selected Chris Jordan at pick No.4
“He’s cool, calm and collected in the big moments,” Shipperd told Fox Sports.
“We’re chasing high-end pace and a death bowler, so he fitted the bill perfectly for us.”
Chris Jordan has previously played for the Sixers. Credit: JOEL CARRETT/AAPIMAGEThe Perth Scorchers pulled off a big shock when they passed on their No.6 pick in the Platinum round.
The Scorchers eventually used their retention pick to keep Laurie Evans in the second round, while they snared Phil Salt in the third round and left-arm paceman Tymal Mills in the fourth round.
Evans was the hero for the Scorchers in last season’s grand final win, while Mills has played for the team before.
“Availability is a real key for us,” Scorches coach Adam Voges said of the decision to pass on the Platinum round.
“We love guys coming back who have played for us before and fit into our group really well.”
The Sydney Thunder went with David Willey at No.7 given he will be available for the entire season.
Hobart had the last pick in the Platinum round, and they went with Pakistan’s Shadab Khan.
England’s Liam Livingstone was selected with the first pick in the draft. Credit: Aijaz Rahi/APRenegades star Aaron Finch was thrilled his team landed Livingstone.
“It was a no-brainer for us,” Finch said.
“What he offers with the bat is exceptional. And what he delivers in the field and with the ball, being able to bowl legspin and offspin, I think he’s a beautiful fit for the Renegades.”
Below the $340,000 premium category, players picked up in the gold ($260,000), silver ($175,000) and bronze ($100,000) rounds also earn handy paydays.
Each team needed to select a minimum of two and a maximum of three players from the draft.
Carlton great’s trade wish for ex-teammate.
Carlton great’s trade wish for ex-teammate.Full draft orderRound 1 (platinum)
1 – Melbourne Renegades – Liam Livingstone (England)
2 – Melbourne Stars – Trent Boult (New Zealand)
3 – Brisbane Heat – Sam Billings (England)
4 – Sydney Sixers – Chris Jordan (England)
5 – Adelaide Strikers – Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) retention pick
6 – Perth Scorchers – Passed
7 – Sydney Thunder – David Willey (England)
8 – Hobart Hurricanes – Shadab Khan (Pakistan)
Round 2 (platinum and gold)
9 – Melbourne Renegades – Mujeeb Ur Rahman
10 – Melbourne Stars – Joe Clarke
11 – Brisbane Heat – Colin Munro
12 – Perth Scorchers – Laurie Evans (retention pick)
13 – Sydney Sixers — James Vince
14 – Adelaide Strikers – Colin de Grandhomme
15 – Sydney Thunder – Alex Hales
16 – Hobart Hurricanes – Asif Ali
Round 3 (gold and silver)
17 – Hobart Hurricanes – Faheem Ashraf
18 – Sydney Thunder – Rilee Rossouw
19 – Perth Scorchers – Phil Salt
20 – Adelaide Strikers – Adam Hose
21 – Sydney Sixers – Pass
22 – Brisbane Heat – Pass
23 – Melbourne Stars – Luke Wood
24 – Melbourne Renegades – Pass
Round 4 (silver and bronze)
25 – Melbourne Renegades – Akeal Hosein
26 – Melbourne Stars – Pass
27 – Brisbane Heat – Ross Whiteley
28 – Sydney Sixers – Izharulhaq Naveed
29 – Adelaide Strikers – Pass
30 – Perth Scorchers – Tymal Mills
31 – Sydney Thunder – Pass
32 – Hobart Hurricanes – Pass
– With AAP
Bailey Smith on light duties ahead of cut-throat final.
Bailey Smith on light duties ahead of cut-throat final.
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