Big Bash clubs dangle cash carrots to lure T20 World Cup stars
Big Bash clubs are headhunting world cricket’s biggest names in a signing blitz designing to enhance the competition’s star power. Who could be coming for BBL11?
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The Big Bash has launched a six-figure signing blitz in a bid to lure some of the World Cup’s biggest stars to Australia this summer.
England death bowling specialist Chris Jordan and West Indies’ walking highlight reels Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo are being headhunted by BBL clubs as Australia looks to sprinkle some World Cup star power over next month’s tournament.
Already, the BBL will welcome back some of the World Cup’s biggest names in Afghanistan strike weapons Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi as well as England pyrotechnic crowd pleasers Sam Billings, Alex Hales and Saqib Mahmood.
Australia takes on New Zealand in the ICC T20 World Cup final on Monday (1am AEDT) on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today.
The Sydney Sixers are understood to be targeting fast bowling gun Jordan as an injury replacement for last year’s title-winning all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite, who is fighting to prove his fitness.
Bravo and Russell have been some of the biggest imports in BBL history, and although haven’t been signed yet, clubs are circling.
If Jordan signs with the Sixers and joins fellow England star James Vince in magenta it would be a chance for redemption for the experienced quick, after a horror spell in the World Cup semi-final was used by New Zealand as a springboard into the final.
However, Jordan has proven over the course of his career he is a class Twenty20 performer and would instantly become one of the most skilled death bowlers in the Big Bash.
Bravo was given a grand finale to international cricket when he bowed out against Australia at the World Cup, but he still has franchise ambitions.
The Australians gave the all-rounder a guard of honour along with Chris Gayle, but he could end up as teammate to some of the Aussie stars this summer.
Gayle, on the other hand, has shown no interest in returning to the Big Bash years after the controversial comments he made to broadcaster Mel McLaughlin resulted in a fierce backlash by Australian clubs.
Russell is one of the best hired guns in world cricket and was a crucial weapon when the Sydney Thunder won the BBL.
One of the frustrations for BBL organisers is World Cup finalists New Zealand are off limits, due to the Black Caps’ contracts which stipulate they must play domestic cricket over the summer.
Sydney Sixers star Stephen O’Keefe said the BBL needs to continue to find ways to attract international superstars.
“What you want at the Big Bash is the best players in the world playing,” he said.
“Those guys from the England and New Zealand teams are world class.
“The challenge with the Big Bash is the time period for players to say is it worth their time versus money to play over that period of time, which is Christmas.
“There has to be ways to attract them, and nothing speaks louder than a few extra bucks in their pocket.
“I’d ideally love to see teams have three or four overseas players and potentially a separate pool of money we could go to to attract those guys, so we could have the best playing in this tournament and take it to the next level.”
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Originally published as Big Bash clubs dangle cash carrots to lure T20 World Cup stars
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