Photo Credit: Sydney Thunder
The Big Bash Leagues will introduce major changes to player contracting structures that will ensure the competitions remain globally competitive and an attractive proposition for the world’s best T20 players.
The new rules are underpinned by an uplift in total payment pools for Clubs and include the introduction of minimum marquee player requirements, a WBBL Overseas Player Draft, and mechanisms to support BBL clubs signing Cricket Australia contracted players.
Through these new rules and player payment uplifts, the best local and overseas talents are set to earn more in the Big Bash Leagues than ever before.
The changes have come about as part of the new five-year MOU between Cricket Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA).
As announced earlier this month, the Big Bash Leagues will see a significant uplift in the Total Payment Pools, with the Weber WBBL doubling to $732,624 and KFC BBL increasing to $3million from $1.9million in BBL|12.
Top WBBL players now have the potential to earn over $100,000 (plus superannuation) per season, with the average retainer doubling from approximately $26,900 to close to $54,200 and the minimum retainer increasing by 30%.
In the BBL, top players can earn over $400,000; average retainers will increase by more than 50% in 2023-24 to approximately $167,000, with the minimum retainer to increase by more than 20%.
In a significant evolution for the League, each Club will be required to include a minimum number of players above a designated ‘marquee’ salary threshold, requiring top players individually and collectively to be paid designated minimum amounts. BBL lists must include a minimum of six players signed to retainers of $200,000 or above, and WBBL lists a minimum of five players earning $50,000 or more.
These requirements are designed to ensure the Big Bash remains in step with Leagues around the world and continues to attract the best local and international talent, and can be any combination of domestic, overseas or CA contracted players.
Following the success of the inaugural draft, the BBL Overseas Player Draft will return for KFC BBL|13 and in an exciting development for the women’s competition, Weber WBBL|09 will welcome its first Overseas Player Draft. Through the respective Drafts, Clubs will be able to sign up to three primary overseas players to their squad lists.
KFC BBL|13 and Weber WBBL|09 Overseas Player Draft salary bands:
| Band | BBL | WBBL |
| Platinum | $420k | $110k |
| Gold | $300k | $90k |
| Silver | $200k | $65k |
| Bronze | $100k | $40k |
Nomination and draft details, including the selection order, will be announced in due course.
To maximise the opportunity of Cricket Australia (CA contracted) players participating in the BBL, mechanisms have been introduced to support Clubs signing contracted players while acknowledging their varying availability.
Some player payment relief will be provided to Clubs that sign national players who are expected to have limited availability for the coming season.
Clubs will also be permitted to bring forward a portion of their total payment pool from the following season to pay national players if their availability changes.
CA contracted players who at the time of the contracting period are not expected to be available for the BBL season can be signed on a Marquee Supplementary List. These players can be moved to the Primary List of 18 should they become available throughout the season. Clubs will be limited to two players on their Marquee Supplementary list.
Each of these mechanisms comes with relevant criteria and conditions to ensure the overall integrity of the competition is protected.
Alistair Dobson, General Manager, Big Bash Leagues said:
“The new player contracting rules and uplift in Total Payment Pools will allow both the Weber WBBL and KFC BBL to remain internationally competitive in an increasingly dynamic market.
“The introduction of marquee player thresholds is instrumental in ensuring we continue to attract top-class overseas talent while rewarding our home-grown stars.
“We’re excited to be launching a WBBL Overseas Player Draft and welcome the return of the Draft to BBL. With top international players able to earn more in the Big Bash Leagues than ever before, there’s no doubt clubs will have a high calibre group of players to choose from.
“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.
“I’d like to acknowledge and thank the ACA for their support, participation and creativity when exploring how to continue innovating the WBBL and BBL and set up the competition for the years to come.
“Cricket is a fast moving, global market and we are confident these new contracting rules will ensure the Big Bash Leagues remain world-class and we will continue to see some of the most explosive T20 players on Australian soil throughout the summer period.”
