Cricket Australia is pondering to breathe new life into its money-making Big Bash League T20 tournament which saw a drop in ratings despite a new format. This means bringing in new changes and revamping the league if reports of Western Australia Today are to be believed.

CA is considering a draft for overseas players, a bonus point for the team leading at the 10-over mark, in-game substitutions, and free hits after wide balls. One proposal is for the team that scores more runs in the first half of its innings to receive a bonus point.

Player substitutions in line with the failed experiment in ODIs in the mid-2000s may be undertaken.

David Warner says his participation in BBL depends on international calendar

“The Big Bash has a history of innovation and we’re exploring a number of avenues to enhance the entertainment value and excite fans this summer. We are working through the relevant processes and consultation and by the end, we’re confident we’ll have a good story to tell as we approach BBL10,” CA’s head of Big Bash Leagues Alistair Dobson said.

The report also states that teams would have two selections in a marquee draft in which all overseas players would be available to be taken. Such players would be split into two pay tiers, with CA potentially tipping in to pay part of overseas players’ wages.

Another proposal is to have the clubs match the bids of oppositions on players who played for their club last season.

Currently, the availability of foreign players depends on the government’s approval in light of COVID-19 travel restrictions, although recent signs have been positive, with CA increasingly optimistic India will be able to tour next summer.

(watoday.com.au inputs)