Oz cricketers demand less ODIs to play in Big Bash

Melbourne:

Australian cricketers want their board to schedule the post-2012 international calender in such a way that they can play the revamped Big Bash Twenty20 league from first to last ball, even if it means cutting down on one-dayers.

The Australian Cricketers Association has written in this regard to Cricket Australia, which is not keen to tamper with the number of ODI games in a season.

ACA has written to the CA that for the league to be successful it was imperative that all Australian stars play in the Big Bash.

However, as per the current arrangement Australia's one-day players have no chance of playing in the state-based Big Bash because the competitions run concurrently.

"The ACA believes it is critical to the appeal of the Big Bash competition that the involvement of Australian players is maximised," the cricketers Association said in its submission, accordiong to a report in the 'Australian'.

"This is also based on the assumption that the total workload of these players would not increase, i.e., Big Bash games would replace international games.

"Given that each team will have a salary cap, ACA is of the belief that Australian cricket has a responsibility to ensure that this is largely distributed to Australian players."

CA chief executive James Sutherland said there was "great merit" in Australia's best players being available for the competition but was reluctant to promise on reducing ODIs.

"Obviously, that needs to be balanced with our commitments to international cricket, and as we've always said, we want Twenty20 cricket to complement not compromise international cricket," Sutherland said.

But ACA chief executive Paul Marsh said, "Cricket Australia might have to bite the bullet and take some short-term pain for some long-term gain."

The Big Bash is all set be revamped with Cricket Australia opening the gates for private investors into the league, a move which will splash the league with big money.

The ACA also supported the inclusion of two overseas stars in each of the eight city-based teams, with the two new sides likely to be in Sydney and Melbourne.

"The ACA believes quality overseas players are important to the future success of the Big Bash event. The ACA also acknowledges that players such as Kieron Pollard, Shahid Afridi and Chris Gayle added significant value to the 2009-10 event.

"The ACA is, however, of the belief that there are a limited number of overseas players who are available, affordable and of a sufficient quality to be worth bringing into this competition," the submission read.