Melbourne Stars have defied the odds to secure the top pick in the Big Bash League Draft for the second year in a row.
Stars, who finished sixth in the BBL last summer despite having a 20% chance of landing the coveted first pick, were the first names called in this week’s weighted draw, which determines the order of the overseas player draft.
Crosstown rivals Melbourne Renegades locked up pick two, while Sydney Thunder, who had a 40% chance of landing pick one after finishing eighth last season, made a short straw with pick three.
“I’m completely annoyed, to be honest with you,” Sydney Thunder general manager Trent Copeland laughed while speaking to reporters on Thursday.
“We had the best odds of being the No. 1 overall pick. We sat in the room for the raffle draw.
“It’s heartbreaking… I was excited at the prospect of landing first place.
“Honestly, in the environment we live in in the BBL draft, No.3 doesn’t change our plans. We have a really clear, standout group of talented people who are at the top of our priority list, the target skill sets we are looking for, and I am confident we will get one.”
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The Thunder will have the option of retaining England’s opening-day BBL leading scorer Alex Hales in the first round of next season’s draft, expected to be held in September.
Meanwhile, the Sydney-based franchise announced it had signed wicketkeeper Sam Billings on a three-year deal to recruit the Englishman from Brisbane Heat.
The 32-year-old, who represents England in all three formats, has donned the lime green kit for 20 games between 2020 and 2022, but spent the previous two seasons in Brisbane.
“I would like to thank the Brisbane Heat for two great years in Queensland,” Billings said in a statement.
“I absolutely loved my time at this wonderful club. I met some great people and contributed to winning the BBL.
“I hope I can do the same and help build a successful culture at Sydney Thunder going forward.”
Copeland is also confident the Thunder can lure Australian superstar David Warner, who is set to play international cricket later this month, back to the club for another season.
“(Warner) is a champion of the club, a long-standing member and he hasn’t really had a chance to take a breather away from that position all summer in his career,” Copeland continued.
“I really want to do that. Davey is a good friend of mine, but I don’t take for granted the fact that there are many franchise club cricket properties around the world who want his services.
“Let’s make that happen, and he can be a Thunderman for life. I think it will be an interesting story to cap off what has been an incredible career for him.”
The Stars will be wary of the absence of two previously selected first-choice players in the BBL draft from the tournament. England’s Liam Livingstone withdrew from the 2022/23 competition due to international commitments, while Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan missed last year’s Big. Bash because of the surgery.
After Adelaide Strikers retained Khan, the Stars’ subsequent selection last year, England young gun Harry Brook, also withdrew from the Big Bash due to international commitments.
Meanwhile, Hobart Hurricanes topped the Women’s Big Bash League Draft, with Sydney Sixers and Renegades finishing second and third respectively.
