Alistair Dobson insists the Big Bash League must show Australia’s leading white-ball players that “they feel valued”, or risk seeing them drift to leagues offering fatter cheques abroad.
Ensuring Maxwell, Stoinis and a string of other headline acts remain in the BBL is, according to the league boss, priority No.1 as Cricket Australia discusses partial privatisation and a likely shake-up of the player payment model.
Right now an overseas “platinum” pick can bank AU$420,000 through the men’s draft. Few domestic names get close to that under the current club salary caps, and an overlap with South Africa’s SA20 – where top earners make more again – has only exaggerated the gap.
Dobson told SEN radio the issue sits front and centre. “We’ve got to work day and night to make sure we keep our best players playing in Australia,” he said. “Every year we have Test players coming in and out, and that’s been a part of the life of the BBL for 15 years now, but having our best, particularly our white-ball players, playing in the BBL is what’s made the competition great. It’s almost our number one priority, to focus on that group of players and ensure that they feel valued and are part of our competition and can keep being the backbone of our league. That’s right in front of mind.”
The league is weighing up whether a third edition of the men’s overseas draft makes sense. One option on the table – perhaps just for the short term – is to let clubs return to straightforward direct signings. Whatever route is chosen, officials accept the salary cap must rise if local stalwarts are to feel fairly rewarded.
“I think one of the key objectives for us is to be able to bring more money into the salary cap in the future,” Dobson continued, “so that, importantly, not only do the best overseas players want to come and play in the BBL, but our best local Australian players, and particularly the stars that really underpin our competition, get paid what they’re worth, not just compared to overseas players, but compared to the opportunities that are presenting around the world, which are growing rapidly, and increasingly it’s hard for us to keep pace with that in the current model.”
How to fund that uplift is tied to the broader push for a hybrid ownership structure. The original idea was a joint sale of minority stakes in all eight BBL sides. States have since split. New South Wales and Queensland appear set to keep both of their licences fully in-house. Western Australia, Tasmania and Victoria favour opening the door to private equity, while South Australia first floated the hybrid model and remains keen.
Before anything is signed off, Cricket Australia, the state associations and the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) must agree a set of pay and governance criteria. Only then can any club formally test the market.
Victoria is already sketching out scenarios. Its short-lived plan to merge Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades proved unpopular and has been shelved for 2026-27. Instead, officials are preparing to sell up to 100 per cent of the Renegades licence once the rules allow.
Pressure from overseas leagues is unlikely to ease. The SA20’s deep pockets tempted several BBL regulars last summer and its January window means a direct clash for marquee overseas names. Privatisation is being pitched as the quickest way to unlock capital, lift salary caps and keep pace.
Negotiations remain delicate. The ACA warned this month it would block any model that failed to protect player incomes and long-term employment rights. With the next BBL season only a few months away, solutions, and cheques, may need to arrive quickly.
For now, Dobson’s message is simple: if Australia wants its domestic T20 to stay relevant, its standout players must feel the love – and see it reflected in their bank balances.
