Coast gets three BBL games in draft draw

THE Big Bash will push ahead with plans for an international player draft, despite the fact that importing a sprinkling of stars will be more complex than landing the entire Indian cricket team.

Cricket Australia has taken a stab at crystal-balling four months down the track by handing down its men’s and women’s Big Bash schedules for the new summer.

The Gold Coast has been allocated three matches – the Heat v Sixers game on Wednesday, December 9, Stars v Scorchers on Wednesday, December 30, and Heat v Hurricanes on Friday, January 15.

Deep down, everyone knew that one random COVIDinduced sneeze in the wrong direction could send it back to the drawing board, so this schedule is very much drafted in pencil rather than ink.

The draw defied expectations, because at a time when people were calling for a shorter season, it has been expanded in length.

More prime time games will allow broadcasters to maximise returns, but it triggered a thumbs-down from Brisbane Heat captain Chris Lynn, who claimed “the golden goose has been cooked again’’ in a tweet deleted soon after it was posted.

Main points of the BBL draw include:

A longer season, with the record early start to coincide with the start of the first Test against India on December 3, and finishing beyond the end of the school holidays on February 6.

Fewer double-headers, with the culling of many afternoon games which failed to attract crowds, but more games (48 of 56) in prime time.

Cashing in on the soaring popularity of the Australian women’s team, with 23 regular season matches and the finals being broadcast live on Fox Sports and Channel 7.

Fewer games away from major venues but there will still be matches in Coffs Harbour and Geelong.