However, they managed to secure the services of the sensational English batsman, Harry Brook, described as “box office.” Meanwhile, South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp emerged as the top selection in the Women’s Big Bash League draft.

The Melbourne Stars had the coveted No.1 pick in the men’s draft and initially aimed for the Afghan leg-spinning maestro Rashid Khan. Unfortunately, the Adelaide Strikers used their retention selection to keep Rashid, as they did in the previous year. Undeterred, the Stars turned their attention to Harry Brook, an explosive batsman who made a mark during the Ashes series.

Stars’ general manager, Blair Crouch, expressed their excitement about Brook, believing that he would bolster their batting lineup significantly.

• The Hobart Hurricanes picked English all-rounder Tom Curran, but he was retained by the Sydney Sixers. Instead, they opted for Chris Jordan, a versatile cricketer.
• The Melbourne Renegades made South African batsman-wicketkeeper Quinton De Kock their first-round selection.
• Sydney Thunder retained Alex Hales, the all-time leading BBL international run-scorer.
• The Brisbane Heat rounded out the first-round selections by drafting the hard-hitting New Zealander, Colin Munro.

In the inaugural women’s draft for the Big Bash League, Marizanne Kapp emerged as the top pick. The Sydney Thunder secured her as their platinum selection, citing her prowess in bowling during the power play as a key asset.

Thunder coach Lisa Keightley expressed her confidence in Kapp, highlighting her expertise in power play bowling. Keightley also noted that Kapp’s experience would be valuable for their young playing group. Kapp, a former Sydney Sixer, contributed both with the bat and ball in the previous season.

• The Scorchers had the option to retain Marizanne Kapp but chose to retain skipper Sophie Devine instead. The Renegades then selected Devine as their first choice.
• The Renegades also retained West Indian all-rounder Hayley Matthews, who had a significant impact last season.
• The Stars retained Alice Capsey, a dynamic English all-rounder known for her versatile shot-making.
• The Sydney Sixers picked Proteas all-rounder Chloe Tryon, who adds powerful hitting and left-arm orthodox spin to their squad.

In the WBBL, players had the option to avoid the draft and negotiate directly with a club. However, this came with a financial cost to the player.

This season marked a significant increase in player payments, with the WBBL cap doubling to $732,624 and the men’s cap rising from $1.9 million to $3 million. Top players in the WBBL can now earn over $100,000 per season (average contract $54,200), while leading men’s players can earn over $400,000 (average contract $167,000).