Photo Credit: Perth Scorchers
What do you need to know before the Big Bash Drafts on Sunday, here are a few details.
When is the draft and where can I watch it?
Fans can tune into the Weber WBBL|09 Draft from 5:30pm AEST and the KFC BBL|13 Draft from 7pm AEST on Fox Cricket, available on Foxtel and Kayo Sports.
What is the draft’s purpose?
The Draft is the primary way for clubs to recruit their overseas players ahead of the upcoming season.
Previously, clubs would negotiate with players and their managers directly.
Player nominations and categories
122 players from 19 countries nominated for the first Weber WBBL Draft, while the BBL|13 Draft has grown on last year’s with 376 players from 29 countries nominating.
There are four categories in which players can be selected: Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze. Salaries for each category have been set at globally competitive rates, with Platinum the highest player payment grade.
Direct Nominations
The Weber WBBL Overseas Player Draft offers players the option of nominating to be directly contracted by a WBBL Team after the Draft only. If a player opts for a direct nomination, they are not available to be selected by a team during the Draft.
If a player opts for this approach and is directly contracted by a WBBL Team after the Draft, the player’s retainer cannot exceed more than 95% of the amount a WBBL Team must pay a Silver Overseas Player.
The following players have submitted direct nominations in the Weber WBBL Overseas Player Draft:
- Suzie Bates (New Zealand)
- Tammy Beaumont (England)*
- Sophia Dunkley (England)
- Mignon du Preez (South Africa)
- Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
- Amy Jones (England)
Draft order
The Draft order was determined through a weighted lottery, with each club having four selections.
In the BBL, Perth will have picks 8 (Platinum Round), 16 (Gold), 17 (Silver) and 32 (Bronze).
Meanwhile, in the first-ever WBBL Draft, Perth starts with picks 3 (Platinum), 11 (Gold), 22 (Silver) and 27 (Bronze).
Clubs may elect to pass in certain rounds, but each club must pick a minimum of two and maximum of three players by the completion of round four.
Round one is for Platinum players, round two for Platinum and Gold, round three for Gold and Silver, and round four for Silver and Bronze.
List of Player Nominations
Weber WBBL|09 Overseas Player Draft nominations
KFC BBL|13 Overseas Player Draft nominations
Retention picks
Clubs may choose to retain one overseas player in each Draft. Players will be an eligible retention player if they fit any of the following criteria:
- Have been in a Big Bash team squad for a minimum of two seasons and haven’t been contracted to another team since
- Have been in a Big Bash team squad the previous season
- Was in a team squad last season but did not play in the starting 13 and have been approved by the Big Bash Technical Committee
- Is otherwise approved by the Big Bash Technical Committee due to exceptional circumstances.
In the BBL, there are seven former Scorchers that are eligible for retention by the club.
South African Faf du Plessis is eligible after playing seven matches for Perth last season, whilst a host of Englishmen are a chance to return. Stephen Eskinazi, David Payne, Tymal Mills, Phil Salt, Adam Lyth and Laurie Evans are all in the mix to be retained by the back-to-back BBL champions.
In the WBBL, Perth has a choice of three players to retain. South African superstar Marizanne Kapp is one of those three, after playing a crucial role over the past two seasons.
New Zealand pair Sophie Devine and Maddy Green can be also retained, having represented the club last season.
Total players and replacements
Each club’s MBBL squad will feature 18 players including two or three overseas players from the Draft. The remainder of the squad comprises domestic players.
The WBBL squads follow a similar set of rules, except the playing squad will only comprise of 15 players.
Clubs have the option of contracting up to four replacement overseas players following the Draft, but these players must have initially nominated for the Draft.
Perth Scorchers MBBL squad:
Ashton Turner (captain)
Ashton Agar
Jason Behrendorff
Cooper Connolly
Aaron Hardie
Nick Hobson
Josh Inglis
Matt Kelly
Mitch Marsh
Lance Morris
Jhye Richardson
Andrew Tye
Perth Scorchers WBBL Squad:
Charis Bekker
Piepa Cleary
Amy Edgar
Alana King
Beth Mooney
Taneale Peschel
