Ricky Ponting Flag Concerns About The BBL As New T20 Leagues Emerge

Ricky Ponting Feels like Cricket Australia is under more pressure than ever to attract large overseas skills to the BBL due to the vast amount of money that could be on the proposal in the new South Africa and UAE T20 leagues, which will run at the same time of year.

Ponting was appointed head of the strategy for the Hobart Hurricanes, marking his first transition into a team position in the BBL after participating in and analyzing the competition for the first 11 years.

On Friday, he announced the hiring of James Hopes and Darren Berry as his new assistant coaches, along with the announcement of Jeff Vaughan as the team’s new head coach for the next three years.

Thursday night’s three-hour discussion between Ponting and his brand-new coaching staff covered the Hurricanes’ preparations for the forthcoming August 28 international player draught. After being chosen last in the weighted lottery, the Hurricanes will hold the eighth and last pick in the first two rounds.

However, in light of the revelation that the new South Africa T20 league had sold each of its new franchises to IPL owners, as well as the likelihood that it would also happen in the UAE.

‘I have no idea what Cricket Australia is thinking’: Ricky Ponting

Given the overlaps in January, Ricky Ponting feared the BBL would face a larger challenge than ever to its ability to draw the greatest players.

Ponting claimed that “Cricket Australia might be under more pressure than ever. I have no idea what Cricket Australia is thinking in terms of their present plan, but it just seems like, if you look at the draught already this year and the player availability, the bulk of players seem very keen to commit to the BBL for the first half, the first six or eight games.”

“The South African tournament will then begin in the middle of January, and you can be sure that the players will try to play the first half here and the second half there, which is not ideal for a competition like the Big Bash. So if there are workarounds or ways to improve it, Cricket Australia should have a look at those.”

The BBL season will run from December 13 to February 4, with overseas players able to specify how much money they are available for.

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