Big Bash League 2020: Shane Watson and Usman Khawaja slam new BBL rules

Big Bash League 2020: Shane Watson and Usman Khawaja slam new BBL rules
Shane Watson
Shane Watson

Recently retired Australian cricketer Shane Watson and current cricketer Usman Khawaja have questioned the new rules that have been introduced in the Big Bash League (BBL). Both have stated that the new rules are confusing and the officials are not understanding what the audience likes and wants.

On Monday, the BBL brought in three new rules in an attempt to make the league interesting. They introduced the “Power Surge”, “X-Factor” and “Bash Boost”, which Trent Woodhill, the BBL’s consultant, believes will force the “players to have to think on their feet a little bit”.

‘Rule changes complicate an already complicated game’ – Usman Khawaja

Usman Khawaja

Usman Khawaja who represents the Sydney Thunder in the BBL stated that cricket is already a complicated sport for newcomers and that it shouldn’t be complicated further.

“So had a day to think about new BBL rules. My biggest issue is that the BBL is all about (and great at) getting new people involved whom have never played,” tweeted Khawaja on his official Twitter account. “But the rule changes complicate what’s already a very complicated game (for newcomers). Shouldn’t we be going the other way around?”

Shane Watson, who recently announced his retirement from all forms of cricket wrote “Why, Oh Why!” in an online piece he authored.

“I read today that the BBL is introducing these new gimmicks, such as the ‘Power Surge’, the ‘X Factor Player’ and the ‘Bash Boost’ in a misguided attempt to re-invigorate the tournament. I just can’t seem to get my head around why there are people out there who are trying to re-invent the wheel when the wheel was not broken. It just had hit a little rocky ground, in which some really simple measures that were already put in place, would create a slipstream back to the very top again.”

Just like Khawaja, Watson also spoke about the impact the rule changes will have on viewers. “The complexities that these new ‘Science Experiments’ are going to create for the viewers, let alone the players and coaches, when none of these have been tried and tested at lower levels, have really taken the wind out of my sails,” wrote Watson.

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