Cricket Australia introduces two game changing rules ahead of new season of BBL and WBBL

Australian Cricket fans are set to see massive new rules ahead of the Big Bash League and Women’s Big Bash League. Cricket Australia has announced that they are set to introduce the Direct overseas signing rule and the availability rules. 

The move comes into place in a bid to attract the best overseas talents to come and play the league. The players who are signed up under this rule will not go into the draft as the teams will decide their salaries according to the various new categories. 

Cricket Australia has also announced a new rule for the availability. The Big Bash faces competition from the SA 20 and the International T20 leagues in South Africa and UAE. Keeping this in mind, the teams will have the services of all the players for the entire season and make sure they don’t leave mid-season. 

How will the new rules work?

As per the Direct Overseas Player signing rule, teams can sign one male and one female cricketer ahead of the draft session. The length of the contract can last three years so the teams will not lose them in the next season in the draft. These players will also not be part of the draft that takes place before the start of the new season.

Four new categories, divided into Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum have been introduced. The new category applies both to the BBL and WBBL teams. Each of the categories has been given a different salary band under which a player can be signed. 

Speaking about the availability rules, Colin Munro said “I know myself and Billings and a couple of the overseas (players) last year were quite vocal about trying to sign either multi-year deals or getting players outside the draft, to really try and attract some of those big players," 

The former Kiwi star also said “We've already seen some of those boys coming back and signing multi-year deals now, and I'm sure there will be more to come over the next couple of weeks or months. If we can attract the best players to come and play in the Big Bash, then it's great for everyone here."