Contracting changes set to boost earning power of Big Bash stars

New rules are set to unlock the earning potential of the Big Bash's biggest Aussie stars with Cricket Australia today announcing a contracting overhaul for the upcoming season.

There is no longer a minimum number of overseas players required to be contracted each season with clubs free to build a squad made up entirely of local players if they choose.

The overseas player draft has also been scrapped with the league returning to an open-market system through direct signings, which was in place prior to 2022.

Club officials have been briefed on several changes to the contracting structure for the next two BBL and WBBL seasons, designed to give them greater flexibility to shape their rosters.

A league-wide contracting embargo will also be lifted from 9am AEST tomorrow, allowing clubs to add to their squads for this summer. The signing freeze had been in place since last season while CA and the players' union, the Australian Cricketers' Association, negotiated the new model.

The lifting of the embargo is likely to trigger a rush of domestic and international signings across both the men's and women's competitions with the Weber WBBL|12 season now just two months away.

Clubs have been limited to 12 men's and 10 women's players on their rosters since the end of the free agency and trade period last February (BBL) and December (WBBL) respectively.

Roster sizes remain the same as previous seasons, with clubs able to fill out their 18-man BBL and 15-woman WBBL lists from Thursday morning.

Adam Zampa and Josh Inglis are among the Australian white-ball guns out of contract ahead of KFC BBL|16 with the leg-spinner in hot demand having decided to explore his options after his Melbourne Renegades deal expired at the end of last season.

Former England Test captain Ben Stokes has been linked with a return to the Big Bash, while New Zealand blaster Finn Allen has attracted the most interest of the overseas cohort after helping Perth Scorchers claim their sixth men's title last season.

In the WBBL, returning speedster Tayla Vlaeminck is uncontracted, as are international superstars Sophie Devine, Hayley Matthews and Danni Wyatt-Hodge, the latter being a crucial cog in Hobart Hurricanes' triumph last December.

Under the previous contracting structure, clubs were forced to sign or draft two or three overseas players each season based on set salary bands, with at least one earning more than $300,000 in the BBL and $90,000 in the WBBL.

Now, with no minimum requirement to sign overseas players, that money can be redistributed to Australia's biggest stars based on each club's needs.

The new rules for this season will see the six highest-paid 'marquee' players in a BBL|16 squad earn a minimum of $1.7m combined – 53 per cent of the $3.18m salary cap. This will evolve in BBL|17 where the top four players on each list will earn at least $1.4m collectively.

The previous requirement for the sixth highest-paid player to earn at least $212,242 has been scrapped under the new structure.

In WBBL|12, the top five players must collectively be paid at least $439,000 – 57 per cent of the $772,466 cap. For the following season, the top four will be required to earn at least $400,000 combined.

Three of each club's marquee men's and women's signings must be domestic players this season, dropping to two the following season for BBL|17 and WBBL|13.

The changes are expected to make most of the clubs’ rosters and salary distribution more top-heavy and ensure the value of Australia's best players is rewarded.

"Every club has its own strategy, its own list needs and its own view on where value sits in the market and this model backs them to make those calls themselves," said league boss Alistair Dobson.

"Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, clubs can now weigh up their salary cap, their squad balance and their long-term list-building priorities and make decisions that suit their specific circumstances.

"That's a significant shift, and one we think will sharpen the competitive nature of both leagues."

Officials believe the new structure won't impact the arrival of the best overseas talent, who can now negotiate their own deals with clubs without constraint.

"The overseas player draft was designed to attract the best available players to our leagues and drove significant interest and engagement, and we certainly consider it to be a major success," Dobson added.

"In recent times we've seen a shift in the player market and our clubs now require greater flexibility to be more strategic and tactical in how they build their lists.

"For that reason, we believe a direct signing model for all players and an optimised marquee contracting structure is ideal and will provide clubs with freedom and optionality in an evolving and competitive market.

"We want the world's best players to be part of our leagues and for every player to have the opportunity to attract market rate and competitive offers in what is an increasingly dynamic market.

"We believe the adjustments to the contracting model will ensure the competition continues to attract world-class talent while also rewarding homegrown stars."

The league has also tightened the rules for signing local replacement players in the BBL, who will now only be permitted for season-ending injuries, wicketkeeper shortages and during squad depletion, when a club has fewer than 16 of their contracted players available. "(This) feeds into list builds and ensures every contracted player is a considered, strategic selection for clubs," said Dobson.

In the WBBL, local replacement players can still be signed when a club has fewer than their full contracted squad of 15 available.

The changes come as CA and the states continue to explore options to introduce private investment into Big Bash clubs. CA chief executive Todd Greenberg said earlier this month it was hoped a determination on the privatisation project could be reached by mid-September.

– with AAP