BBL 2020: Adam Zampa defends Big Bash rule changes

BBL star Adam Zampa has thrown his support behind new rules, after high profile players called out the changes as ‘gimmicky’.

Shane Watson isn’t happy with the new Big Bash rules. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Wainwright

Adam Zampa has thrown his high profile support behind the Big Bash rule changes and believes the innovations are made for cricketers of today and tomorrow, rather than those at the twilight.

Experienced stars Shane Watson and Usman Khawaja have both been publicly critical of the BBL’s controversial new rules, but Zampa, 28, says most of his contemporaries are actually behind the move and believe the changes will give the competition a much-needed boost.

“Innovate or disintegrate” is Zampa’s attitude to the introduction of the ‘power surge,’ the ‘x-factor player’, and the ‘Bash Boost,’ and the Australian T20 spinner says the BBL has correctly recognised the fact it is not comparable to the billion dollar IPL, and therefore needs to think more outside the square

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Adam Zampa has thrown his support behind new rule changes, saying the BBL must ‘innovate or disintegrate. Picture: AAP.

“To be honest with you, most of the comments from people who are unhappy are guys that have one or two years left, aren’t playing anymore, or haven’t played for four or five years,” Zampa told News Corp.

“I think it’s more important that the guys who are living it and are going to be playing it for the next five or 10 years (are supportive) – their opinions are the ones that matter the most to be honest with you.

“I guess you’ve got to take a bit of a deep breath and have a look at it for what it is.

“… Everyone around my age, the guys who are 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, they all are really excited about it. The boys are talking about BBL a month out from it starting, which usually doesn’t happen.

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“Maxi (Glenn Maxwell) is obviously my captain at the Melbourne Stars, and he, myself and Stoin (Marcus Stoinis) are already talking about how our team might look and our strategy.”

Zampa wanted to speak out about the controversial topic, because he feels a sense of responsibility to the BBL, which has helped launch his career.

He doesn’t deny tweaks needed to be made to the BBL following pressure from broadcasters, but said it’s a common misconception that the BBL should be trying to model itself on the IPL.

“I have lived through all of BBL so far … I’ve lived it from the start and I can see where it was ending up, if something didn’t happen,” said Zampa.

“I see it as being a really huge part of my career. I see myself playing it for the next 10 years.

“I think all the negativity is just not needed with the BBL. You innovate or you disintegrate, basically.”

Usman Khawaja is one high profile star who has slammed the new rule changes, despite being consulted during the decision making process. Picture: Wayne Ludbey.

With players paid far less, and with the depth not what it is in India’s benchmark competition, the BBL is a unique beast and Zampa believes the changes – including a move to three international imports – will enhance the competition.

“I think it’s going to definitely test the leaders out,” he said.

“The halfway mark rule (Bash Boost) is going to be very interesting. 170-190 is a really tough score to get in BBL … teams are going to have to decide if they go all out to get that one point and keep themselves in the game and keep themselves in the season, rather than losing a few wickets and then viewers turning off the TV straight away because you know the result.

“The power play rule is a great rule. If anything it’s going to improve the middle-order play. I just think it’s one of those things the viewers will have something to look forward to as soon as the four over mark is done.

“A lot of people have come out with comments about the IPL and how T20 cricket is a great brand and nothing needs changing but the BBL is different. Cricket is a religion in India and they’ve got the depth of talent which we probably don’t have to be honest with you.

“People watch the big IPL auctions because people make millions. Their teams change a lot every two or three years where as the BBL teams stay pretty similar so I think we needed to try something.”

BBL BOSS RESPONDS TO STARS’ SWIPE AT NEW RULES

The Big Bash has been stunned by the lambasting of new rules by players who were consulted on the process.

Sydney Thunder skipper Usman Khawaja claimed on Tuesday that the “power surge”, the “X-factor player” and the “Bash Boost” innovations for the coming season were complicating an already complicated game, while T20 great Shane Watson lashed them as “gimmicky”.

BBL boss Alistair Dobson responded on Tuesday, confirming that Khawaja was one of many stars contacted by the BBL committee during the year for their thoughts on the proposed rule innovations, while Watson is president of the Players’ Association who effectively ticked off on the changes.

Defending champion the Sixers will have to absorb a few new rules this season.

Dobson welcomed the powder keg of debate that has erupted – including from Khawaja and Watson – because it showed people cared about the competition.

But he stressed that none of the innovations would change the fundamentals of the game, and maintains it’s the BBL’s role to keep pushing the envelope.

“It’s still bowlers bowling and batters batting and runs winning,” Dobson told News Corp.

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“We consulted with a number of players throughout the process and then at the end of the day there’s a committee that exists within Australian cricket that considers proposals around rule changes and playing conditions of which the ACA (Australian Cricketers Association) and representatives of the ACA sit on those committees and endorsed and supported these proposals.

“Absolutely the player voice is loud and strong in that.

“We did speak to Usman a while back, through that process. Callum Ferguson, Aaron Finch to name a few. We spent a lot of time with coaches of each BBL team to get their input around how they might use these rules and how we might drive new looks at strategy and the way the coaches are involved in games.

“Cricket more than any other sport around the world has a rich history of innovating and pushing the envelope on making cricket as exciting and engaging and fun to watch as possible and that’s been our philosophy here and we think we’ve landed on a good formula.

“There’s a significant amount of data and analysis that’s sat behind the development of these innovations … and we’ve consulted across a wide range of experts, including players, coaches, broadcasters and match officials so we’re really confident they’re set up to succeed.”

So had a day to think about new BBL rules. My biggest issue is that the BBL is all about (and great at) getting new people involved whom have never played. But the rule changes complicate what's already a very complicated game (for newcomers). Shouldn't we be going the other way?

— Usman Khawaja (@Uz_Khawaja) November 17, 2020

It’s understood broadcasters weren’t unanimous in their support of the three rule changes – one a power play, one a substitute player who can be called in mid-match, and the other a bonus point system – but believe the negative reaction on social media has been over the top.

Fox Sports were disappointed Watson as ACA President was so damning.

“We find that extremely disappointing given the Players Association ratified these rules,” said Fox Cricket boss, Matt Weiss.

“Any new rules tend to get a negative reaction. We’re going to get behind them and see how it plays out. We’re really excited about the BBL and can’t wait for it to start.”

In this blog I write about my shock at the announcement yesterday of these new gimmicks for the upcoming season of @BBL
Things were really looking up but now I am worried. #t20stars https://t.co/pCuA18dvtp

— T20 Stars (@stars_t20) November 16, 2020

The ACA said Watson was entitled to his opinion as one of the all-time greats of T20 cricket, and said its playing group would have a wide-range of individual thoughts on the rule changes.

It says consultation was more around communication from CA that the changes were being made rather than input into their development – but say it’s CA’s prerogative to bring in new rules.

The AFL and the NRL saw the COVID year as an ideal time to trial new rules, and privately CA officials believe that even if only one or two of the changes come off it will be worth its while, and there’s no harm reassessing at season’s end.

Shane Watson says the rule changes aren’t needed. Picture: AAP

Australian T20 star Alex Carey went the opposite way to Khawaja and Watson in endorsing the changes.

“I am a big supporter. Any time we can make what is already an amazing competition even better for the crowd and the viewers at home is a good thing,” said Carey.

“It certainly should make the games even more exciting and it really opens it up for the 12th or 13th man to play a really big part. It’s always good to try some new things to enhance what is already a great product.”

Originally published as BBL 2020: Adam Zampa defends Big Bash rule changes