Big Bash salary cap switch reopens the door to Australia stars

HARRY SLYNN: Cricket Australia will permit sides to sign nationally-contracted players outside of their salary cap from this year, while an overseas player draft will take place before the WBBL

Australia's biggest names could be bound for the Big Bash League after a change to tournament squad rules.

Teams are now permitted to acquire players outside of their salary cap, joining on a marquee supplementary list if they have other commitments.

If availability changes then they can be added to the main squad.

It is hoped the fresh rules, introduced by Cricket Australia, will avoid a repeat of the situation which saw Steve Smith unable to compete in the BBL|11 playoffs having not been named as part of the original squad.

The WBBL will be supplemented by an overseas player draft (Hanna Lassen/Getty Images for Cricket Australia)

CA have also confirmed there will be an overseas player draft ahead of the WBBL - mirroring the process for the men's event.

In addition, the eight men's teams will have to sign a minimum of six players on retainers worth at least AU$200,000 (£105,000) while five leading women must be deals worth AU$50,000 (£26,000).

In an effort to lure bigger-name overseas players, there are substantial wage hikes for the top men (AU$420,000, £222,000) and women (AU$110,000, £58,000).

It is hoped the shift will guarantee more nationally-contracted players can feature in the competitions if they withdraw from squads, or matches are cancelled and postponed.

BBL chief Alistair Dobson (Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

The biggest impact is likely to be on the men's tournament, with franchises permitted to sign up as many players they wish within the salary cap (AU$3 million, £1.58 million), with only match fees added to the overall cap if they are required.

"It's always our ambition for as many of those players to be part of the BBL as possible," said Big Bash chief Alistair Dobson. 

"We hope that the mechanisms will enable clubs to sign players even if they are either unlikely or not available. Because having them around the BBL and ready if available, is a really important part of the competition for us."

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