NEW DELHI: Having comprehensively retained the Ashes with a 4–1 series win over England, Australian players have now turned their focus to the country's Big Bash League, informing their respective franchises about their availability.
Steve Smith and Todd Murphy (Sydney Sixers), Alex Carey (Adelaide Strikers), Brendan Doggett (Melbourne Renegades), Josh Inglis (Perth Scorchers), Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne (Brisbane Heat), along with Jake Weatherald and Beau Webster (Hobart Hurricanes), have conveyed to their franchises that they will be available for selection from Saturday, January 10, onwards.
Meanwhile, Player of the Series Mitchell Starc (Sydney Sixers) and Michael Neser (Brisbane Heat) are set to join the league at a later date.
However, Scott Boland, Travis Head and Cameron Green will miss BBL15, with each player set to follow a different recovery path. Boland, who represents the Melbourne Stars, and Head of the Adelaide Strikers have been earmarked for short recovery blocks after featuring in all five Ashes Tests.
Green, meanwhile, remains without a BBL contract as he continues his rehabilitation from major back surgery.
Cricket Australia has clarified that all Test players will be managed under individual workload plans, aimed at ensuring adequate recovery and preparation for upcoming international assignments, including the T20 World Cup, while still allowing them to feature in the Big Bash League where feasible.
"The KFC BBL|The 15th season has delivered outstanding cricket and incredible fan experiences, watched by record crowds and broadcast audiences so far," said Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia's executive General Manager, Big Bash Leagues. "We are delighted to have a number of Australian Test players entering the competition from tomorrow night off the back of their NRMA Insurance Ashes series victory, and thank them for their commitment to the BBL."
