DDBBL sides draft up player selection plans
CRICKET: Every DDBBL team has a plan for the player draft.
They also have “plans B, C and D”.
More than 160 players have nominated for the Darling Downs Bush Bash League player draft and about half of them will be selected.
Despite the complexities and uncertainty of draft night, there is one type of player everyone wants to draft – good all-rounders.
“We want to go pretty heavily on the all-rounder side of things, and I don’t think that’s a secret to anyone,” Valley Raptors captain Zac Beveridge said.
“That’s the way cricket is going, all-rounders are a key part of that.
“Whether it’s bat and bowl, bowl and field, whatever the combination may be, you need to be good at at least two of the disciplines.
“It (the draft) is a lottery so we will see how we go.
“We’ve got names and ideas about who we want to pick, but as to how that pans out, who knows.
“I think our first pick will throw a spanner in the works.”
Grammar Blazers is one of two new teams in DDBBL this season and is looking forward to big night.
“I think the draft is quite similar to last year,” Blazers captain Cameron Brimblecombe said.
“There’s a few notable absentees, but there’s still a really good mix of players available – we’re really excited and can’t wait to get involved in the draft.
“I don’t think you can have a plan for draft night.
“You just have to be ready on the night and take what you can.
“Picking at number six in the draft, I’ll be interested to see where other teams go early, and we can adapt our plan from there.”
The DDBBL Player Draft will be held at Clifford Park Racecourse from 6pm on Friday, August 14.
A maximum of 200 will be allowed into the venue on a “first in first served” basis if you are not involved with a team or sponsor.