Brendon McCullum hints at participation of more New Zealand players in BBL 2020-21

McCullum hints at participation of more New Zealand players: The former captain of Brisbane Heat has put forward an intriguing suggestion.

Former New Zealand and Brisbane Heat captain Brendon McCullum has put forward an intriguing suggestion regarding the increased participation of New Zealand players in the forthcoming 10th season of the Big Bash League in Australia.

Speaking in an interview with SEN Radio, McCullum pondered the “great opportunity” lying with Big Bash if international cricket doesn’t resume to the best of its ability due to the novel COVID-19 pandemic.

“If there is a shortage of international cricket what an opportunity for the Big Bash, which if we are being honest has probably just tailed off a little bit of late, what a great opportunity to really morph that back into Australia sporting fans’ eyes,” McCullum was quoted as saying.

Brendon McCullum hints at participation of more New Zealand players in BBL 2020-21

It is worth mentioning that McCullum himself played in six seasons of the BBL from 2011 to 2019. In 35 matches for Brisbane Heat, McCullum had scored 920 runs at an average of 27.88 and a strike rate of 136.50 including nine half-centuries.

McCullum, who is currently the head coach of Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders and Caribbean Premier League franchise Trinbago Knight Riders, went on to state that New Zealand could play as a separate team or the Kiwi players could play as locals in BBL 2020-21.

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“And I think what a great opportunity to maybe bring a New Zealand team into the Big Bash or use New Zealand players as local players because there may be a distinct lack of overseas players.

“A little bit of creative thinking. It may be just for one season but we have to prepare for the long-term if you are going to grow the game there may be some value,” McCullum said.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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