Contract rush for BBL targets

The season only finished on the weekend but planning for next summer's Big Bash League will get underway on Wednesday with the contract window opening.

Convince David Warner to return to Big Bash League cricket? Lure Mitchell Johnson out of retirement? Make a play for controversial West Indian Chris Gayle?

These are the questions the eight Big Bash League franchises face when the contract window for next summer's competition opens on Wednesday.

While this year's final was only held on Sunday, planning for the next edition of the hugely popular Twenty20 tournament will already be well underway.

The first BBL trade period will last for a month with the salary cap for clubs to be boosted by $100,000 to $1.4 million.

"As the league now enters its sixth year with a well-established set of contracting rules, including two trade periods, we believe clubs have the flexibility and the right opportunities to build their strongest possible squad ahead of another exciting season," BBL head Anthony Everard said.

Many of the competition's key names including Brisbane captain Chris Lynn, Adelaide big-hitter Travis Head and veteran paceman Shaun Tait are already locked into multi-year deals.

Instead it is players without an affiliation such as Warner, Johnson and Gayle who loom as key targets.

Australia vice-captain Warner hasn't played a Big Bash League game since 2013, saying in December he felt the competition hampered his preparations for Test match cricket.

His former franchise, defending champions Sydney Thunder, will be keen to bolster their batting ranks given Michael Hussey's retirement and the likely departure of South Africa veteran Jacques Kallis.

Only available for selected matches due to his international commitments, Warner's box office attraction would surely overcome that if a franchise does attempt to lure him back to the tournament.

Chris Gayle's future is less assured.

The West Indian brings superstar sparkle but the controversy he created during a televised interview with a female journalist may mean even if a franchise makes a bid, Cricket Australia could refuse to sign off on the contract if they regard Gayle as too much trouble.

Gayle's fellow West Indian Samuel Badree will almost certainly be pursued.

Badree was easily the best bowler in Brisbane's underwhelming bowling line-up, picking up 5-22 in the Heat's win over the Sydney Sixers at the SCG.

Retired Test quick Mitchell Johnson knocked back interest from the Perth Scorchers to play in this summer's competition but will surely be on the Scorchers radar for the 2016-17 tournament.

The Heat are also interested in luring Johnson back to Queensland as they try to bolster their fast bowling stocks.

Veteran Scorcher Brad Hogg's future is also up in the air.

The evergreen 44-year-old played all nine of the Scorchers matches this summer and remains an effective and popular T20 player.


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Source: AAP



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