BBL: The wellbeing of cricketers this summer comes into sharp focus with a crammed schedule for players like Glenn Maxwell

Eight games in 16 or 17 days plus time in quarantine and playing hubs could make things tough for Australia’s best in the BBL this summer.

Plenty will be required of Australian and Renegades captain Aaron Finch this summer. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

The mental and physical wellbeing of all players will remain in sharp focus this summer after the release of the Big Bash schedule revealed eight games in just 16 days was the start of an epic summer workload for Aussie white-ball star Glenn Maxwell.

Australia’s limited overs stars, including captain Aaron Finch and Maxwell, are expected to be parachuted into hubs with their Big Bash teams for the season start just two days after the last of six matches against India in Sydney and Canberra.

Finch, who will play eight games in 17 days through that period, and Maxwell are among a raft of players who have been away from Australia since August when they headed to England for a series of white-ball matches.

They then flew straight into long stints in biosecurity bubbles with their Indian Premier League teams that don’t end until they head back to Australia on a November 11 charter flight and into quarantine before the international games.

The revamped BBL schedule is also packed with back-to-back games for some teams as well as nine double-headers and a season-ending triple-header on Australia Day, with each team playing 14 games in the 48-day window.

The Stars summer is beginning to take shape 💚

Venues for BBL matches scheduled in the New Year will be announced in the coming weeks.#TeamGreen pic.twitter.com/oLZ5ot9ojI

— Melbourne Stars (@StarsBBL) November 4, 2020

While much of the hectic travel schedule has been taken out of play by border restrictions, long breaks between some games, in bubbles that could also be less strict than first expected, could prove the most crucial element of a tough summer.

“We understand this is a really unique year for all cricketers in terms of their commitments. We understand there is a lot to put our players through,” BBL boss Alistair Dobson said on Thursday.

“Player health and wellbeing is front and centre for all of us.

“We want to make sure we can give players as many freedoms as possible (in the hubs). We have worked really hard to make sure the players are having a good time.”

OFFICIAL | It's a new-look #BBL10 fixture! 🤗

More details to come on Jan-Feb, but you can check out ALL the match-ups & dates here 👉 https://t.co/qgkj6iyQx3 pic.twitter.com/704nA2qzs8

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) November 4, 2020

Dobson conceded it was disappointing that star batsman Steve Smith had already ruled himself out of a late start in the BBL, citing his own heavy workload.

There will also be no David Warner, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and possibly Josh Hazlewood, with all players likely to be involved in a Test series that won’t end until January 21.

“Of course we’d like those players playing in the BBL if they are up for it later in the season, we’ll keep those conversations going,” Dobson said.

“But we need to look after our players, and if that means they don’t play in the BBL, we’ve got heaps of big names coming to play.”

Steve Smith won’t play in the BBL, citing a packed international and IPL calendar. Picture: Money Sharma / AFP

Many BBL clubs are still confirming their international players, with many needing replacements for English stars who have been called up for national duties in early December.

Dobson confirmed some may not have the three overseas players available to them ready to play in the early season games.

“Our clubs have been planning in and around that, whether they are able to bring another international in for that specific window, it’s not as easy as it is in a normal year,” he said.

“They are all working on different strategies. We are working really hard to get those players back from that tour and into the BBL as quickly as possible.

“The number one batter, bowler and all-rounder in the world have been signed. We’re really excited by how ambitious the clubs have been.”