Kane Richardson considers BBL innovations: The Renegades’ fast bowler warns the administrators regarding new innovations punishing bowlers.
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Australia’s prominent T20 league in the Big Bash League will complete a decade when its next season begins during the Australian summer later this year.
In a bid to make the league all the more watchable, Cricket Australia are considering “exciting innovations” to allure spectators in both the stadiums and across viewing platforms around the world.
Five innovating amendments which are being considered at this point in time are bonus points, player substitutions, split powerplay, free-hits for wide balls, extra breaks and overseas players draft.
Australia and Melbourne Renegades fast bowler Kane Richardson has become the first player to share his opinion regarding the potential changes. “Bonus points, that would be great, I think it would make the ladder more interesting towards the backend of the tournament,” Richardson was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
Kane Richardson considers BBL innovations
The T20 format is already known to be diverted towards the batsmen for various obvious reasons. The inclusion of a free-hit on a wide delivery and split powerplays are likely to further tilt the balance away from the bowlers.
While Richardson liked the point around awarding bonus points subjected to performance of a team in the first 10 overs, he didn’t shy away from expressing a contrasting opinion with respect to free-hits.
“I think I saw free hits if you bowl a wide, which I’m obviously not that keen on because we get that wrong occasionally so don’t think we should be punished that harshly.
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“It’s a good conversation to have to make the BBL the best product we can, so I’ll be keen to see what they can come up with so long as it’s not something that’s just punishing the bowlers. I think with all the innovations, it’s a good discussion to have but in the end, the best selling point will be the standard of cricket,” Richardson said.
In the eight matches that the 29-year old bowler played for Renegades in BBL 2019-20, he picked 10 wickets at an average of 21.80, an economy rate of 6.99 and a strike rate of 18.7. Having picked 83 wickets in 68 BBL matches at an average of 23.14 and an economy rate of 7.79, Richardson is the third-highest wicket-taker in the tournament.
