Rule change blocks path for Australian cricket wunderkinds

There will be no Australian equivalent of the 14-year-old sensation who took over the IPL after a major rule change was introduced. Plus another Pakistan superstar joins the BBL, in this week’s Leg Buys column.

Cricket Australia has introduced a minimum age requirement for its domestic competitions – including the Big Bash League – which would prevent an Aussie equivalent of 14-year-old Indian Premier League sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi.

CA quietly implemented a rule earlier this year dictating that a player must have turned 15 before the start of a respective competition to be contracted to play in that league.

The rule applies both to state cricket and to the men’s and women’s Big Bash tournaments. The decision has been made in line with ICC guidelines.

States and clubs would need to prove exceptional circumstances to get an allowance for an underage player.

Though rare, it is not unprecedented for players to appear in professional cricket before turning 15.

Rajasthan Royals' teen sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Picture: AFP

Indian batter Suryavashni – who played a first-class match at 12 and signed an IPL deal at 13 – made global headlines in April when he smashed a century off just 35 balls at just 14 playing for the Rajasthan Royals.

On an Australian front, the Hobart Hurricanes last year signed 13-year-old Mia Barwick for the Spring Challenge Twenty20 tournament.

Sydney Sixers all-rounder Caoimhe Bray became the youngest player in Women’s Big Bash League history when she debuted weeks after her 15th birthday last year.

Jake Fraser-McGurk was 16 when he first signed a replacement player deal with the Melbourne Renegades.

Mia Barwick (in the yellow bib) was just 13 when signed by the Hobart Hurricanes. Picture: Getty

EAGLE SET TO LAND IN BRISBANE

Pakistani pace ace Shaheen Shah Afridi is poised to be taken by the Brisbane Heat at pick No.1 of Thursday’s BBL overseas player draft.

The Heat – who won the title in 2023-24 but plummeted to seventh last season – claimed first spot in the draft via a lottery, ahead of Adelaide (pick No.2) and the Renegades (No.3).

League sources have indicated that the Heat will likely take left-arm quick Afridi, 25, who has more than 100 wickets across each of the three international formats.

His recruitment would provide the Heat with a fearsome new ball duo given the club already possesses fellow left-arm weapon Spencer Johnson, as well as capped pair Xavier Bartlett and Michael Neser.

Pakistan superstar Shaheen Shah Afridi (R) is making his way to the BBL. Picture: AFP

Gun Pakistani batter Babar Azam was last week unveiled as a pre-draft signing by the Sydney Sixers, while compatriot Mohammed Rizwan is also in the pool for the draft.

England Test opener Zak Crawley, who had a stint with the Perth Scorchers two summers ago, is another to have nominated, albeit his availability will likely be limited because of Ashes commitments.

The fact the draft has been brought forward has complicated the decision for clubs given that a BBL fixture list is yet to be announced, muddying the waters in terms of availability.

COMINGS AND GOINGS

Several local signings and re-signings have not yet been formally announced by clubs, however Tasmanian all-rounder Aidan O’Connor has been in the sights of Sydney Thunder. Queensland quick Tom Straker, who had a replacement player stint with the Heat last season, has been strongly linked to Adelaide. The Strikers are also set to retain Chris Lynn.

The Hurricanes are yet to confirm the re-signing of Australian T20 finisher Tim David but it is understood he has recommitted for another two seasons.

Sam Harper (Melbourne Stars), Gurinder Sandhu (Renegades), Nick Hobson (Scorchers), Blake Nikitaras (Thunder) and Daniel Hughes (Sixers) are all set to remain with their respective clubs from last season.

Originally published as Rule change blocks path for Australian cricket wunderkinds