Cricket Australia has announced a new player movement window that will allow players to switch between Big Bash franchises. This window, modeled after the AFL’s trade period, will take place for 10 days after the conclusion of the men’s and women’s competitions. The WBBL window will run from December 2 to December 11, while the BBL window will be open from January 28 to February 6.
During this period, teams can trade players with other clubs, sign players from rivals in the final year of their contract, and even trade overseas player draft positions. However, clubs are not allowed to re-sign currently contracted players during this time, including those in the final year of a deal.
WBBL teams can sign up to eight players before the window and 10 at the end, while BBL teams can sign 10 and 12 players, respectively. Contracting embargoes will start at the end of each league’s home-and-away season, with the expectation that they will be lifted in March.
Cricket Australia’s executive general manager of Big Bash Leagues, Alistair Dobson, believes that these player movement windows will add a strategic dimension to the leagues and provide certainty and stability for players and clubs. The collaboration between Big Bash clubs and the Australian Cricketers’ Association has been crucial in implementing this new system.
