Calls for change if BBL lasts so long

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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 the 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 all-rounder Tom Curran last week ordered to join England teammates in the Caribbean, leaving them with James Vince as their only international player for the Big Bash finals.

“There’s going to be more clashes any time you have a tournament that runs over more than eight or nine weeks,” 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.”