Ricky Ponting makes no apology for ignoring marquee stars in the BBL overseas player draft and says Cricket Australia should follow the IPL model with the excitement of an auction.
“I think there would be a lot more excitement in viewing an auction and watching teams go at it, rather than just a draft,” said Ponting, speaking as head of strategy for the Hobart Hurricanes.
Ricky Ponting being interviewed as Hobart Hurricanes’ head of strategy during Sunday night’s inaugural BBL overseas player draft.Credit:Getting Images
“It’s a TV event as much as anything and I think there could be a lot more excitement created through an auction than just a draft.”
Ponting reflected the mood of all eight clubs in last Sunday night’s draft, when five of the 12 top-tier platinum players costing $340,000 each were overlooked. Only one, David Willey, was available for the whole tournament and was selected by the Sydney Thunder.
“We are trying to win the comp, that’s my whole gig at the Hobart Hurricanes, to win the tournament,” said Ponting, one of cricket’s leading statesmen and commentators.
“We’ve got to put together the best list we think can win it for us. And that’s it. We don’t need to think about anything else.”
Andre Russell, one of the big names ignored in the BBL’s overseas player draft.Credit:Getty
Andre Russell, Kieron Pollard, Faf du Plesiss, Dwayne Bravo and Jason Roy were all overlooked. Being available for only half the tournament before heading off to more lucrative UAE or South African tournaments counted against them, as did their ages and in some cases form.
“The only disappointing thing from CA’s point of view is a few of the bigger names they promoted didn’t get picked up. That’s the only downside,” Ponting said.
The irony is that one of Ponting’s other employers, Channel Seven, has taken Cricket Australia to court claiming a breach of contract from Seven’s $450 million contribution to the $1.18 billion television rights deal with Fox, because of a lack of big names among other things.
CA is investing $8 million to revive the competition two years out from the next broadcast deal, with most of the money going on overseas stars.
Ricky Ponting in discussion with Shikhar Dhawan during his role as Delhi Capitals coach in the IPL.Credit:Getty
A doubling of the salary cap to almost $4 million per club is expected next season to better reward local players.
As a result Ponting believes most local players should also be part of the draft.
“Not everyone. I think each team should have a right to retain a certain amount,” said Ponting, who has extensive experience with the IPL as a player and, more recently, as head coach of the Delhi Capitals.
“As a team and as a franchise you want to keep a core group together.
“At the IPL, when it’s the big auction, you retain four players and then you’ve got to bring another 20 in.
“There’s a lot of work that goes into it, but there’s a lot of excitement that’s created by that as well.
“I think there should be a discussion around some sort of auction and retention, because I think it would be exciting to see the local players move around a bit more as well. It would be interesting.”
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