Sydney Thunder captain Callum Ferguson ‘shocked’ by Big Bash innovations

Sydney Thunder captain Callum Ferguson has revealed why several cricketers are wary of the Big Bash League’s 2020 shake up.

Callum Ferguson of the Sydney Thunder.

Sydney Thunder captain Callum Ferguson has conceded he was initially “shocked” and “disappointed” when Cricket Australia announced a trio of innovations for the Big Bash League.

In November, CA unveiled three new playing conditions — the Power Surge, X-Factor and Bash Boost — which would dramatically reinvent the BBL tournament.

The announcement was met with some scepticism, notably from former Test captain Michael Clarke and former opening batsman Ed Cowan.

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Although Ferguson was intrigued by how the rule changes would impact 20-over cricket, the South Australian did not feel as though they were necessary additions to the game.

“If I am honest, I was pretty shocked they were looking to make big changes to the game,” Ferguson told news.com.au. “I’m a firm believer the T20 game is a great product as it is.

“I feel like we might have been looking to change the game a little bit on the back of some lopsided games, which were probably more a result of the wickets not being what they normally are in Australia.

“I felt shocked and a little bit disappointed initially. However, now that the changes have been made, our team will be embracing those changes.

“I am a very open-minded person when it comes to change, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how they pan out over the season and see what effect they have on the game.

“Players are only ever looking for what’s best for the game, and no doubt the (administrators) are too, so we’ve all got to work together.”

Thunder's Callum Ferguson.

Ferguson revealed senior members of the playing group were concerned the game would become too complicated for newly-introduced fans.

“We want to make sure that it’s still game that’s relatively easy to understand,” Ferguson said. “It is quite a tricky one to understand when you’re new to the game, and that’s what we’re a little bit mindful of.

“But now that the rules are in place, certainly here at the Thunder, we’re really keen to explore how these rules can be used, and how we maximise their effect for our benefit.”

The Power Surge and X-Factor were trialled during a warm-up match against the Sydney Sixers, and Ferguson immediately noticed their impact on the game.

“We felt like it changed the game a little bit, which could be quite exciting for the fans,” Ferguson said. “The momentum of both innings swung when the (Power Surge) was taken in both innings, so that could be one of the innovations that does really have an impact, and potentially makes the game a little bit more exciting for the fans.”

Ferguson has plundered 1530 runs in his BBL career, including five half-centuries and a career-defining 113 not out against the Perth Scorchers in January 2019.

Sydney Thunder captain Callum Ferguson.

The Big Bash League is scheduled to commence on Thursday evening when the Hobart Hurricanes host the Sydney Sixers at Blundstone Arena.

Despite calls from fans to reduce the competition’s length, each club will once again play 14 regular season matches before a finals series in early February.

Ferguson believes it would be in the sport’s best interest for the BBL to return to a 10-game format, and suggested several of his teammates agreed.

“I do think the tournament’s a little bit longer than it needs to be,” Ferguson said. “I thought 10 was a really good number, games wise, and I think a majority of the players had concerns about pushing out to 14 games when it was proposed.

“We were really keen to make sure that we didn’t go down the path that the English T20 went down. They flooded and saturated the T20 market in England, and the tournament went backwards.

“We think that we’ve probably just stretched it a little bit too far, and that we could probably rope it back in a little bit and have a few less games.”

Callum Ferguson of the Thunder.

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After getting knocked out by the Melbourne Stars in last season’s finals series, the Thunder squad has been bolstered by the addition of three high-profile signings.

Former Australian all-rounder Ben Cutting, English batsman Sam Billings and New Zealand paceman Adam Milne will each make their debut in green this summer.

“We are really pumped to have been able to bring more experience into the group,” Ferguson said. “We feel like they bring us great balance, and that’s something you’re always searching for when you’re putting together a playing XI and a squad.

“It’s really exciting to have these guys come on board, and we know they’re going to add plenty to our side on and off the field.”

The Thunder will face the Stars at Manuka Oval on Saturday afternoon for their first match of the BBL’s 10th edition.