Bonus points and substitutes to bring in X-factor players new rules for this year’s Big Bash

An extra over to smash boundaries, chosen by the batting team, is one of three new innovations for this summer’s Big Bash.

Big Bash star Aaron Finch will have extra time for smashing sixes this year. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

Telling a player he’s been subbed out of a Big Bash game could be the hardest part of new rules Brisbane Heat coach Darren Lehmann believes will make the game better.

Three new rules will be introduced for 10th BBL season including the “X-factor” substitute and the “power surge”, a two-over stretch where the batting team can open up the field any time after the 11th over to help produce high scores.

The third change is to promote big-hitting early for chasing teams, with a bonus point on offer if they can better or equal the first innings score by the 10th over. The bowling team gets the bonus point if that doesn’t happen.

Lehmann said subbing in a player, a batter if a team loses early wickets or a bowler if they needed to stem the flow of runs, could bring matches that look like blowoust closer together.

But he conceded implementing them could take some getting used to.

“That‘s probably the hardest one we’re going to have to deal with because you could be flying and someone’s going to miss out just because of the way you’re going,”Lehmann said on Monday.

“But I can‘t imagine that’s pleasurable telling someone at the 10-over mark of a game that he’s either subbed in or subbed out. The subbed-in player’s going to be pretty happy, but the subbed out player will be going `I haven’t done anything wrong, I haven’t played any part in the game’. That’s going to be tough for them.

“Pre-heart attack I would have blown up. Post-heart attack I‘d be pretty relaxed.

“I would have found that quite frustrating. That‘s really hard on the player.”

The move comes with Cricket Australia stuck in a legal battle with broadcaster Channel 7 over the quality of this year’s competition.

Several Australian stars, including Steve Smith and David Warner, have already said they won’t play because of the long international season, while the availability of the best overseas players has been impacted by both COVID-19 restrictions and other international cricket.

But Marnus Labuschange will play with the Heat when he Test commitments conclude, Mitch Starc will play with the Sydney Sixers, and Test captain Tim Paine has joined the Hobart Hurricanes.

Entertainment levels 📈

“The Power Surge, X-Factor and Bash Boost prioritise high scoring, exciting cricket, introduce new strategic angles and ensure there’s always something to play for throughout the entire match," - Head of BBL, Alistair Dobson #BBL10 pic.twitter.com/Nacna2XHw9

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) November 15, 2020

Lehmann said the rules changes, brought about by T20 visionary Trenty Woodhill who consulted to Cricket Australia, should make the game better.

‘We’re trying to make the game closer ... with some innovation along the way which is what BBL’s been about from its inception,” he said.

“We‘ve got to sit back, have a look at it, and work out what works and what doesn’t.”

Woodhill said the BBL had to be innovative.

“The best T20 leagues across the globe are the ones that continue to innovate, push the boundaries and challenge the status quo. The introduction of these new playing conditions firmly puts the Big Bash League in that category,” Woodhill said.

“There’s now more emphasis on the role of the coach, more for our fans to look forward to and more for our broadcasters to speak to during each BBL game.

“Despite the challenges of this winter, we’ve got more star overseas players coming to the KFC BBL than ever before and now an ambitious set of innovations to shake up the league. I can’t wait to see our players and coaches embrace these new concepts.”

A full schedule has been released for the upcoming season, with venues for the 21 matches to be played in December confirmed.

The season will begin in Tasmania and the ACT with the first match on December 10. Matches then move to Queensland and South Australia later in the month.

THE NEW RULES EXPLAINED

POWER SURGE

The Powerplay at the start of an innings, in which only two fielders are permitted outside the ring, will be reduced to four overs, two less than previous seasons. Batting teams will then choose when to enforce the remaining two overs of fielding restrictions after the 10th over.

X-FACTOR

After the 10th over of each innings, both teams will be able to substitute a player for either the 12th or 13th name on their team sheet. The departing player must have batted or bowled less than one over.

BASH BOOST

Four competition points will be up for grabs in each match, three of which will be awarded to the winning team. However, the additional point will be assigned halfway through the second innings to whichever side had the most runs after 10 overs.

Originally published as Bonus points and substitutes to bring in X-factor players new rules for this year’s Big Bash