“I still feel like I have unfinished business in cricket,particularly with this group at the Renegades,” Duffin said.
There are four payment bands for overseas players:Platinum (BBL $420,000 and WBBL $110,000),Gold (BBL $300,000 and WBBL $90,000),Silver (BBL $200,000 and WBBL $65,000) and Bronze (BBL $100,000 and WBBL $40,000).
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While the WBBL payments may not be as life changing as the maiden Women’s Premier League draft in India in February was,particularly for top earners Smriti Mandhana ($595,000),Gardner ($560,000) and Nat Sciver-Brunt ($560,000),the local competition has made a splash.
“Obviously,the WPL draft was a little bit different,knowing they had to pick a whole team. With this one (WBBL) just being an overseas draft,I think it is going to showcase the best players in the world and what they are worth,” Gardner said on Wednesday.
Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis is one of the platinum-listed players on offer in Sunday’s BBL draft.Credit:Getty Images
“Looking at the platinum picks,there are some fantastic players there,even girls that have nominated as bronze are worthy of being picked up as well.
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“It’s super exciting. I certainly think it is going to change the landscape of the women’s game. I think it’s only going to do good things. We have seen more money put into the competition as well,which naturally is going to be more of a reason for people to come over and play,knowing they are going to be financially backed to play in a competition.”
The men’s and women’s drafts each have 25 players on the platinum list,including Sophie Devine (New Zealand),Harmanpreet Kaur (India) and Danni Wyatt (England) for the WBBL,and Ashes nemesis Harry Brook (England),Faf Du Plessis (South Africa),Quinton de Kock (South Africa) and Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) in the BBL.
BBL general manager Alistair Dobson said the women’s draft would ensure “players are paid what they are worth”,while also building public interest,and aiding promotion.
“It brings a whole lot of additional value to the competition,” Dobson said.
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Gardner said while she encouraged further funding in the WBBL,the champion allrounder was realistic in her expectations.
“Of course,I would love for it to be more equal,but I feel like I have to be realistic in what is achievable. I certainly think there is room to go and there is still more money that can be put into the women’s game,but we also have to respect what the men do and the revenue they bring into the game,” Gardner said.
“I think naturally we will bring in some revenue,too,when we have the best players in the world playing. It’s going in the upwards trajectory which is the best thing we can ask for at the moment.”
The increasing franchise model of cricket means men and women players can also pocket good money in The Hundred in the United Kingdom.
Gardner,a proud Muruwari woman,re-iterated her stance that there should not be international cricket on Australia Day. Gardner was disappointed a women’s Twenty20 international was held this year,while a men’s Test against the West Indies will be held in January.
The uptick in the men’s BBL comes after host free-to-air broadcaster Seven demanded major changes in the hope of having more star Australian and international players take part.
While the new seven-year,$1.4 billion broadcast rights deal,also including Foxtel,does not begin until 2025,broadcasters and CA agreed to bring forward plans to shorten the season to 10 games per side this summer,plus a shortened finals campaign. This was due to have changed in 2024-25. However,there are no changes to the WBBL,although international players would prefer the 14-game per team campaign be shortened.
The WBBL season begins on October 19,and includes the MCG and SCG hosting standalone matches for the first time. The men’s season begins on December 7.
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