Big Bash teams will be able to sign two Cricket Australia contracted players on a “Marquee Supplementary List” and play them whenever they are available, with payment relief under the $3m salary cap as part of new rules for this season.
The changes come amid a massive cash splash, with top contracts to soar above $420,000 and a minimum six players in BBL squads to earn at least $200,000 as CA tries to keep pace with an explosion in T20 leagues around the world.
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The new $3 million salary cap, up from $1.9 million last season, also contains a $500,000 pool of discretionary funds which for next season must be used to split a total of $1.7 million between the best six players in each squad.
Top WBBL players, including overseas stars, will also have the potential to earn $120,000, with the average retainer doubled to more than $54,000.
Amid the cash bonanza, the moves to get CA contracted players involved loom as potentially the most important and the increased salary cap as well as the new “Marquee supplementary list”, outside the squad of 18, have been included as mechanisms to make that happen.
While the overseas player draft will return, and “platinum” level players will earn at least $420,000, clubs will be given payment relief to sign those CA contracted players not aligned with clubs, like captain Pat Cummins, to make them part of the competition despite varying levels of availability.
Last summer, David Warner ended a 10-year BBL absence when he signed a two-year deal with the Sydney Thunder under a special arrangement with CA, while Steve Smith followed and signed with the Sydney Sixers on a deal reportedly worth in excess of $250,000 for just four games.
Beyond that pair, spinner Nathan Lyon has regularly turned out for the Sixers when available, while Test batters Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja have played for the Brisbane Heat, with Travis Head and Alex Carey also playing for the Adelaide Strikers.
But Cummins has not been seen in the BBL for five years, and the new rules could make it more possible for him and others like Mitchell Starc to play a minimum amount of games when the international schedule allows.
There is however, still no mandate for CA contracted players to join a BBL team.
“How clubs use the new mechanism, we’ll have to wait and see,” Big Bash boss Alastair Dobson said on Wednesday declaring the new contracting rules were designed to keep the BBL competitive globally.
“A key focus has been to further optimise the ability and opportunity for BBL teams to sign Australian contracted players onto their lists.
“The variable availability of these players from season to season due to national commitments has often made it challenging for clubs to contract these players given impacts on salary caps and squad lists.
“These challenges have been addressed through specific mechanisms available to clubs and we hope to see many of Australia’s top talent play in the Big Bash.”
Contracts for CA players on the supplementary list would be at a fixed rate and should they play, those payments would come out of future salary cap payments, which will work on a rolling three-year average.
As part of the uplift in payments, BBL lists must include a minimum of six players, but not limited to six signed to retainers of $200,000 or above and WBBL lists a minimum of five players earning $50,000 or more.
The WBBL will also hold its first draft, seizing on the success of the inaugural Women’s Premier League in India where Australian all-rounder Ash Gardner was picked up for $554,000.
While the WBBL salaries won’t meet those lofty prices, with the salary cap set at $732,624, players will be able to earn six figures, just for the tournament, for the first time.
Dates for the draft, and players to be included, will be confirmed at a later date.
BIG BASH CONTRACTING CHANGES
– Total Payment Pools rise to $3 million in BBL and $732,624 in WBBL
– Both BBL and WBBL to hold overseas player auctions
– BBL clubs able to sign Cricket Australia players on “Marquee Supplementary List” outside of squad of 18, and will be given salary cap relief should those players play
– BBL clubs must pay top six players a combined $1.7 million
– BBL clubs must pay a minimum of six players a minimum of $200,000
– WBBL clubs must pay a minimum of five players a minimum of $50,000
Overseas player draft salary bands:
Platinum (BBL and WBBL wages)
$420k and $110k
Gold
$300k and $90k
Silver
$200k and $65k
Bronze
$100k and $40k
