BBL 2017/18: Justin Langer Denies Alleged Malpractices of Contract Bundling within Perth Scorchers

Looking at the historical success of the Western Australian franchise, Perth Scorchers, in the Big Bash League, other franchises have alleged malpractices such as contract bundling and player coercion within the side.

Former Australian opener and coach of Western Australia, Justin Langer, vehemently refused to accept any such practices in the franchise.

The concept of contract bundling refers to the method of providing a greater amount of remuneration to players compared to the stipulated sum specified in the state contract by removing salary cap limitations.

In the short history of the Perth based franchise, the team usually has boasted a long list of quality players in the squad and have retained their personnel successfully without losing many over the years along with the three titles to their name.

Also, the fact that cities such as Sydney and Melbourne, who have two teams to contend with, might not be able to perform the same practices.

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“A player who does not play four-day cricket can’t be almost on a maximum state contract and getting a pittance for their Big Bash contract. That just shouldn’t happen. You shouldn’t be able to manipulate your Big Bash list by using your state contracts,” alleged Dirk Nannes during Ashes series according to ABC radio.

Langer retaliated to the allegations by claiming playing at Perth is a difficult proposition when compared to other places. Therefore, the players from Western Australia have a bit more to offer.

“Of course, Perth is going to have a natural advantage because playing over there has always been hard … but when there is a little bit else in there and they have the ability to pay a little bit more, not so much pay a bit more but manipulate the system to retain, I think there is an issue that needs to be looked at,” justified Justin Langer according to cricket.co.au.

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“I nearly vomited when I read that (WA journalist) John Townsend paragraph about us being investigated. Give me one example and then we can talk about every single one of these practices of bundling contracts. It’s tougher, to be fair, for the states with two teams, but they also have huge populations,” further added the 47-year old.

Taking the case of AJ Tye, Langer promoted the programmes in Western Australia, and claimed had there been player coercion; the Scorchers would not have lost the services of D’Arcy Short, Hussey, Hogg, and many others.

“Let’s use AJ Tye, he’s the one who keeps (being discussed). The same AJ Tye we took off the scrapheap of club cricket about six years ago, the same guy who went to Sydney Thunder, didn’t like it and wanted to come home, who loves Perth and Western Australia, who just got $1.5m in the IPL auction, who just took five wickets because he’s improved in our program,” Langer advocated.

“If we’re doing the wrong thing by that, I’ll cut my leg off. It’s unbelievable. So D’Arcy Short’s left, Marcus Harris has left. Mike Hussey and Brad Hogg, who are two of my best mates, they left. Craig Simmons left. What, so I’m coercing players? Give me a break,” concluded a shook up Justin Langer.

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