ACT bid won’t hit big cities

No Big Bash League teams from Sydney or Melbourne will be moved to accommodate the inclusion of an ACT franchise as league boss Alistair Dobson committed to retaining the controversial international player draft.

Dobson said maintaining two teams in both cities was integral to the league’s strategy as he declined to comment on a reported push from Cricket ACT to enter teams into the BBL and WBBL.

The ACT has not had a team in the men’s domestic top flight since 2000, but Nine newspapers reported on Monday the Territory was pushing to enter a team in both elite T20 competitions. Either expansion of the competitions or the relocation of an existing club would be the pathway to introducing a team in Canberra, but Dobson said there was no chance of a Melbourne or Sydney club being relocated.

Sydney Thunder played two matches at Manuka Oval in Canberra this season.

While crowds were significantly smaller than the side’s games at the Sydney Showgrounds, the average attendance of 9174 was higher than the Hobart Hurricanes’ four home matches at Blundstone Arena (8406). Dobson said the league was happy with the existing eight-team model and continuing to benefit from the local derbies between the Melbourne and Sydney teams.

“The biggest games we have every year are the local derbies,’’ he said.

“Having two teams in the biggest cities, on a per capita basis, it makes sense.

“There’s always an ongoing discussion around the best structure of the competition.

“Evolving is part of our DNA, but we definitely want those teams where they are.”

Gillespie said that the draft could put fans off-side and deter top players from returning to the Big Bash League due to the lack of multi-year contracts.