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"Absolutely no chance" : Steven Smith rules out playing in Big Bash League

prakash

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Australia's star batsman Steve Smith has ruled out his participation in the Big Bash League for Sydney Sixers, citing concerns over prolonged stay in bio-secure bubbles in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Steve Smith joined Sydney Sixers after international commitments last year and led the team to title but the former Australia captain has said there is 'absolutely no chance' he would participate in BBL, starting December 3 in Australia. Other star players, including David Warner, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are likely to follow suit, according to reports.

Steve Smith, in September, was part of Australia's limited-overs tour of England, which marked the resumption of international cricket for Australian men's team following the enforced break due to the pandemic. Smith along with his Australian teammates left for the UAE a day after the completion of the limited-overs tour of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020.

At IPL 2020, all the players and support staff were in quarantine before entering bio-secure bubbles in the UAE. The players have been following umpteen protocols, limiting physical interaction with fellow teammates. In fact, only a few have travelled to the UAE with their families.

"I'll be honest with you - absolutely no chance," Smith said when asked about his chances of playing in the BBL when speaking to News Corp.

Smith wants players, coaches and management to have open conversations

While the bio-bubbles are a necessity in the wake of the pandemic, concerns over mental fatigue have been raised ever since international cricket resumed in the new normal with the series between West Indies and England. Jason Holder had spoken about the difficulties of being in a bio-bubble for weeks while Jofra Archer also expressed reservations about spending time in the bubbles earlier this month.

Steve Smith said players, coaches and the team managements should have open conversations about the demands of bio-secure bubbles and the need to give players adequate breaks while also keeping in mind the selection issues.

"It's still early days with the bubbles. We don't know how long it's going to last for. There's an uncertainty there. It's just going to be about having open conversations with coaches, general managers, whoever, to ensure that people are keeping their head space in a reasonable place.

"Then there's obviously going to be questions around selection. If someone takes some time off because they've been in the bubble for a long time and then someone comes in and plays well, do they take their spot?

"When guys are starting to find things a bit tough mentally from just living in the bubble, being able to get out - even if it might just be a few days of being normal might be a real help. Those conversations need to be had," Smith said.

https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cr...ure-bubbles-mental-fatigue-1736585-2020-10-30

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But Starc is not playing IPL.
 
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Its understable, if you have high salary in one organisation and low salary in other for the same amount of workload,you will choose the better option.
 
Even I would have done that ....that's human nature....one must restrict his participation in
Micky mouse t20 leagues any way...
 
Still BBL had Roy's Buttlers Archers Rashids..... Plenty of firepower mate....
Anyway I think Short Tye Phillipe are all BBL import of IPL ri8.......
Bro it was banter..😇.
But seriously I think archer will also give BBL a miss. ABD also and Warner have already told as well. Good to see some local Aussie boys. I feel sangha and Param uppal will be ones to watch apart from green
 
Bro it was banter..😇.
But seriously I think archer will also give BBL a miss. ABD also and Warner have already told as well. Good to see some local Aussie boys. I feel sangha and Param uppal will be ones to watch apart from green

Would be surprised if Uppal gets much of a run
 
Obviously BBL arent paying in enough in comparison to the IPL

They need to throw more money at the likes of warner and smith
 
Sorry Aussies. BBL will practically become a formality by next year because IPL has made it one
 
No problem with this. BBL is on when Australia are playing international cricket anyway.
 
It doesn't damage the BBL brand a bit when the best players in the country cant be bothered playing.

I wonder how Aussies feel about it?
 
It doesn't damage the BBL brand a bit when the best players in the country cant be bothered playing.

I wonder how Aussies feel about it?

There is nothing called as BBL brand as all these leagues are domestic by products when international cricket is on. There is only one brand and that is IPL because it has a seperate window in ICC calender. So for majority of top players around the world - its international cricket and IPL.
 
There is nothing called as BBL brand as all these leagues are domestic by products when international cricket is on. There is only one brand and that is IPL because it has a seperate window in ICC calender. So for majority of top players around the world - its international cricket and IPL.

The BBL is the only league where the country's own international stars do not regularly participate.
 
It doesn't damage the BBL brand a bit when the best players in the country cant be bothered playing.

I wonder how Aussies feel about it?

Personally speaking, it's a bit annoying to not have the best players available, but it's also understandable, particularly this year with the bio secure bubbles. The scheduling of the BBL is part of the issue though, as it overlaps with Australia's international fixtures. Part of the reason is that Australia is a nation that follows many different sports, each of which traditionally have their time period in the calendar. It's the reason why the odd international games that are held in October or late February get poor TV ratings and attendance. There's also the issue of most of the cricket grounds across the country doubling as grounds for the AFL and NRL during their respective seasons, which tend to run from mid March through late October. So Cricket Australia is in some ways forced to hold the BBL during the December-January period when international games are also on. They make enough money out of it so they don't exert any pressure on the international stars to play.
 
Smith is laughing himself to the bank with all that IPL money, why would he want to play in any other league?
 
There is nothing called as BBL brand as all these leagues are domestic by products when international cricket is on. There is only one brand and that is IPL because it has a seperate window in ICC calender. So for majority of top players around the world - its international cricket and IPL.

BBL has a pretty high standard of cricket. The crowds are always full. Every T20 league doesn't have to be IPL to be successful.
 
There is nothing called as BBL brand as all these leagues are domestic by products when international cricket is on. There is only one brand and that is IPL because it has a seperate window in ICC calender. So for majority of top players around the world - its international cricket and IPL.

It is of course not on the level of IPL but they have to sell TV rights, tickets etc to a domestic audience.

Their number 1 player saying he cant be bothered with it must be quite damaging.
 
the BBL is played during Australia's home test series. Of course he would not have time for BBL even if he wanted to play.

He can maximum play 2 games and that would be useless
 
I don't understand why Pakistan fans are so offended by an Australian player not wanting to play in Australian domestic competition. It's just absolutely hilarious to see Pakistan fans get riled up by this.
 
BBL usually goes on simultaneously with Aus playing some international cricket.

Plus their crowds are just there to enjoy the game and have some good family time. Don't think they would be worried.

If this starts to happen more frequently, then it will become a concern.
 
Bro it was banter..��.
But seriously I think archer will also give BBL a miss. ABD also and Warner have already told as well. Good to see some local Aussie boys. I feel sangha and Param uppal will be ones to watch apart from green

Pavloski .. or something like that is one to watch out for plus rookie english Afghan Pakistani and Ausie talents like Phillipe Sams Short.......BBL gives adequate opportunity to youngsters around the world....Archer too did well there first b4 bagging english contact.......it's good....actually Rauf getting Pak call.....and it's good for youngsters and cricket in its own way.....Banton did grab eyeballs there......the remaining local players are not bad either....
 
Pavloski .. or something like that is one to watch out for plus rookie english Afghan Pakistani and Ausie talents like Phillipe Sams Short.......BBL gives adequate opportunity to youngsters around the world....Archer too did well there first b4 bagging english contact.......it's good....actually Rauf getting Pak call.....and it's good for youngsters and cricket in its own way.....Banton did grab eyeballs there......the remaining local players are not bad either....

BBL gives opportunities to overseas youngsters as they have a salary cap and lot of overseas talent want top dollars. With the pandemic, top players who have made millions in the IPL would like to spend time with family as they are financially secure this year.

IPL gives opportunities to local Indian talent mostly, with a few international ones as well.
 
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