The world’s best players will begin signaling their intent to play in the Big Bash Leagues from today, with nominations for the KFC BBL|14 and Weber WBBL|10 Overseas Player Drafts now open.
Countdown begins to KFC BBL|14 and Weber WBBL|10 Drafts
The Drafts will see clubs add international firepower to their domestic rosters in their quest for Big Bash titles.
Now into its third year, the BBL Draft attracted over 300 nominations in each of its first two iterations, while the inaugural WBBL Draft last year saw 122 players nominate.
More players could be drafted this year - for BBL|14 and WBBL|10, Clubs can take up to four overseas players by the completion of the Draft, an increase from three in previous seasons. The fourth player would be considered a Replacement Player for a Primary Squad member.
This quartet of overseas talent can be made up of drafted players, plus those signed before the event under the League’s new multi-year contract provision.
Clubs can sign a maximum of one overseas player per competition for up to three years prior to the Draft. These players do not need to enter the nominations pool, but all others hopeful of being drafted must nominate prior to the event.
Sophie Devine, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amy Jones and Lauren Winfield-Hill were all part of Perth's WBBL squad last season as international players and will hope to be retained by the franchise this summer.
Meanwhile in the BBL, fan favourite Laurie Evans returned to Perth for a second time alongside fellow Englishmen Stephen Eskinazi and Zak Crawley.
The first group of player nominations will be announced soon, alongside a date and broadcast details for the Drafts.
Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia’s General Manager, Big Bash Leagues, said:
“The appeal of an Australian summer has made the KFC BBL and Weber WBBL destinations of choice for the world’s best players for over a decade.
“Off the back of a successful 2023-24 summer, which saw growth in crowds and audiences alongside exciting cricket, we know many of these players can’t wait to return this summer.
“We look forward to welcoming nominations from Big Bash favourites and new faces alike ahead of the Drafts later in the year.”
The contracting window for KFC BBL|14 and Weber WBBL|10 is now open. Clubs can sign and trade domestic players, and sign one international per list on a multi-year contract.
Ten BBL Scorchers are currently contracted for BBL|14, while seven of last year's WBBL contingent are signed up ahead of WBBL|10.
KFC BBL|14 squad:
Ashton Agar
Jason Behrendorff
Cooper Connolly
Aaron Hardie
Josh Inglis
Matthew Kelly
Mitchell Marsh
Lance Morris
Jhye Richardson
Ashton Turner
Weber WBBL|10 squad:
Chloe Ainsworth
Stella Campbell
Piepa Cleary
Maddy Darke
Alana King
Lilly Mills
Chloe Piparo