BIG BASH PLAYER CLASH
MELBOURNE Renegades coach Andrew McDonald believes a 14-game Big Bash League season is “here to stay” but has called on Cricket Australia to change rules and condense the tournament to ensure it peaks for finals.
The Renegades are still weighing up how to structure their side for Friday night’s home semi-final with the Sydney Sixers after being blindsided last week by the loss of international all-rounder Mohammad Nabi for the clash.
The Afghanistan national has been pulled from the tournament by his home country to prepare for a test series against Ireland, leaving the Renegades with just one international player — Englishman Harry Gurney — for their finals campaign.
The Sixers are in a similar boat, with England allrounder Tom Curran last week ordered to join England teammates in the Caribbean, leaving them with James Vince as their only international player for finals.
“There’s going to be more clashes anytime you have a tournament that runs over more than eight or nine weeks you’re going to have more clashes with international calendars and events from other teams,” McDonald said.
“Probably something you can consider with both teams not having a second overseas on offer, maybe the rules and regulations around replacing players for the finals might be something they look at next year in terms of being able to replace the overseas.
“It’s something they might want to look at to enhance our product to have two overseas for each team come finals time.”
McDonald said Beau Webster and Cameron White were the two options to come into the 13man squad for Nabi but a restructure of the batting order would be needed.
BBL SEMI-FINAL:
Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Sixers, Marvel Stadium, Friday, 7.40pm