Melbourne Renegades get first pick in inaugural BBL overseas player draft

Two teams were big winners when the order for the first Big Bash overseas player draft was revealed.

Dwayne Bravo could be back for the Renegades. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

The Melbourne Renegades and Stars will get first crack at choosing from at least 170 international players in the inaugural Big Bash draft next month after receiving the first two picks.

An NBA-style weighted lottery system picked out the Renegades, wooden spooners two seasons in a row, to pick first, while the Hobart Hurricanes will be last to choose from the huge pool of international players that at the moment includes 14 West Indians led by veterans Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard.

Last year’s runners-up, the Sydney Sixers, were the big winners in the allocation of picks, drawn out to select fourth in the opening round of a four-round draft.

Teams will be select a minimum of two and maximum of three international players in total, with each having to pass in at least one round of the draft.

Each club will also have a “retention pick” to reclaim an overseas player who was named in the starting team or as an X-factor for at least one game last season.

The first pick in the #BBL12Draft is ours!#GETONREDpic.twitter.com/0CUDdiA6jP

— Melbourne Renegades (@RenegadesBBL) July 21, 2022

That means the Adelaide Strikers can nab Afghan spin star Rashid Khan with their first pick, pick five, and the Stars could grab West Indian powerhouse Andre Russell, should he nominate for the draft.

Former South African captain Faf du Plessis is arguably the biggest name in the list of those who have nominated for the draft so far.

Having finished last for the past two seasons, Renegades general manager James Rosengarten said it was a “huge coup” to get the first pick.

“We’ve invested a significant amount of time in our draft planning and wider list management strategy over the off-season to ensure we build a team capable of rising up the BBL ladder,” he said.

“Recruiting the right overseas players to complement our local talent will be critical to that ambition.

Andre Russell is yet to nominate for the Big Bash draft. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“Having the opening pick means we can attack the draft with a really clear plan, not just in terms of that specific selection but also how we use our remaining picks to best build our squad.

The draft order for round 2 will mirror the first, with round 3 a reverse of the original order before the final round reverts back to normal.

“We are absolutely stoked to draw the fourth pick for the Sixers,” Sydney Sixers list manager Lisa Sthalekar said.

“The odds of us drawing the fourth pick in the weighted lottery were pretty long and there’s little doubt there will be some quality players available at pick number four in both round 1 and round 2.”

Big Bash boss Alastair Dobson said the confirmation of draft details could help the clubs “refine” their strategies for the inaugural event.

BIG BASH DRAFT ORDER

Draft to be held on August 28

1. Melbourne Renegades
2. Melbourne Stars
3. Brisbane Heat
4. Sydney Sixers
5. Adelaide Strikers
6. Perth Scorchers
7. Sydney Thunder
8. Hobart Hurricanes

Originally published as Melbourne Renegades get first pick in inaugural BBL overseas player draft