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BBL free agency timing labelled “completely distracting” as star players enter finals in limbo
Nic Negrepontis • January 21st, 2025 10:20 am
The BBL free agency and re-signings period bobbed up at a rather curious time of the season as teams were fighting tooth and nail to qualify for finals.
Every Big Bash team had until this week to re-sign a maximum of 10 players, with the remaining becoming free agents.
Some of the bigger name free agents now include Mitch Marsh, Tim David, Matt Renshaw, Kane Richards, A.J Tye and Jason Behrendorff.
David and Renshaw in particular now enter a finals series with their respective teams despite not knowing what the future holds for them – as do many players.
Former Australian cricketer Bryce McGain believes Cricket Australia has prioritised creating talking points and narratives over what’s best for teams and players.
“It shouldn’t be happening right now. I think it’s just so people have an interest while the competition is on. I think they think that if it’s happening when the competition is wrapped up, no one is going to take much notice,” McGain told SEN’s Sportsday.
“I think that’s the reason, but it is completely distracting from what the main event is and that’s the Melbourne Stars on Sunday night qualifying for a final.
“It’s terrific that Peter Siddle has signed on for another year, we know that there is going to be movement in teams and some players who are currently playing won’t be there next season, but the timing doesn’t sit well with me.
“I think it distracts from the crescendo of what probably is the best BBL season of all-time, they’ve got the length of the tournament right, it’s hard to predict what’s going to happen and every game was alive, I think it’s as good a version as we’ve had.”
Cricket commentator Adam White agrees, believing it is a distraction from what really matters.
“I understand why it is happening, but to have that situation happen on the eve of finals where players are unsure of their futures as they’re trying to sure up a spot in a finals series and you’ve got coaches and list managers that seem to be more focused on what the team is going to look like for next year rather than actually playing those remaining matches,” White said.
“I like the concept of it, but isn’t it a distraction to have it now? Why does it have to be now?
“It’s kind of caught me off guard that this is happening. I understand why they’re doing it – to get people talking about it. I get it. But there’s work to be done on finding the right way to do it.
“And I’m talking about the draft and this. I can’t help but think Tim David hasn’t committed to the Hurricanes on the eve of the finals – is his heart in it? Same with Matt Renshaw and Mitch Swepson at the Heat. It doesn’t sit well with me.
“I know for a fact there are clubs spending a hell of a lot of time not working on the Xs and Os of the finals, they’re focusing on their team for next year while they’re trying to qualify for finals.”
You’ll hear every ball of the BBL finals LIVE on SEN and the SEN App. The Hurricanes host the Sixers in Hobart in the Qualifier from 7:30pm AEDT tonight.
