What exactly is a 'designated hitter'?
Before the coin toss at every Big Bash League match from 2026/27 onwards, each team will be able to nominate a 'designated hitter' and a 'designated fielder' in their lineup, irrespective of whether they are batting or bowling first.
The 'designated hitter' will be permitted to bat, but not bowl or field.
What's the point of this new rule?
The innovation is designed to tempt some of the most popular but older batters of the league - such as Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell and Mitch Marsh - to play further into their twilight years knowing they won't be burdened by the physical demands of having to field.
It could also attract overseas talent in similar situations, particularly those the Big Bash League is hoping to pry away from lucrative rival leagues such as South Africa's SA20 and the UAE's ILT20. For example, someone like 37-year-old West Indian Andre Russell may be tempted to take a lower-priced BBL contract next season for the luxury of only needing to bat.
Furthermore, it is hoped the new 'designated hitter' position could also be applied to all-format international stars such as Travis Head, who would otherwise opt out of the BBL after the Test season in order to rest and avoid sustaining injuries in the field.
Has anybody tried this before?
Not in this exact format. The Indian Premier League currently has an 'Impact Player' rule that allows one player to be substituted out for another, effectively giving each team the ability to pick a matchday squad of 15 and play 12 of them, but the result of the coin toss and unfolding of the match has a bigger influence on team tactics.
The ICC briefly experimented with a 'Supersub' rule in the early 2000s that forced teams to name their sub player before the toss, which was grossly in favour of teams who won the toss. It didn't last particularly long.
The BBL brought in an 'X-Factor' innovation for 2020/21 which allowed for a substitution to take place only at the ten-over mark of the first innings, and only to replace a player who had not yet batted or had not delivered more than one over. It was rarely used and subsequently scrapped.
Why can't teams have a 'designated bowler' in exchange?
'Designated hitters' don't necessarily add an additional batter to a team's XI, since their fielding replacement will not be permitted to bowl, and therefore it won't throw the bat-ball balance out of whack. It is instead intended to prolong the careers of aging top and middle order players who otherwise would have retired and been replaced by another batter.
Will it be mandatory for all teams?
No. Teams can name normal XIs if they choose to do so.
How has the announcement been received so far?
Fairly warmly, it must be said. Former Test captain-turned-commentator Ricky Ponting thinks it has promise, saying on Channel Seven's BBL coverage: "Some of these (older) guys might be at a stage of their career where they feel that they can't make much of an impact (as fielders)."
"They also might be worried about picking up an injury while they're in the field, which is another big part of it.
"And what this tournament doesn't want is to have these guys not playing, especially at this stage of the tournament when the big games are coming around. We all want to be seeing the best players playing, so if this rule helps that and keeps the longevity up, then that's great."
37-year-old Glenn Maxwell, who could well be one of the beneficiaries of the new rule in coming seasons, was not so sure, saying it "adds something to the tournament.
"It will be interesting to see how it plays out though next year."
Will the same rule be applied to the WBBL?
Not as yet. Discussions are still ongoing on that front.
