'Absolutely no chance' - Steven Smith rules out playing in Big Bash League

October 30, 2020

Steven Smith has declared he has "absolutely no chance" of appearing in the Big Bash this summer due to the demands of lengthy stints inside biosecure bubbles and hubs on national duty. The likes of David Warner, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins are also expected to follow suit.

Cricket Australia's broadcast rights holders, Seven and Foxtel, had been desperate for top international players to take part in the latter stages of the BBL, particularly Smith, Warner, Starc, Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.

But the realities of the schedule and bubble arrangements - Starc for instance has had just 30 hours at home in Sydney since August even though he did not go to the IPL - make this highly unlikely.

"I'll be honest with you - absolutely no chance," Smith told News Corp of his prospects for the BBL.

In assessing the wider toll of bubbles, Smith said there were now a range of extra considerations for players, selectors and coaches to need to have, such as the order of preference for places should a team member elect to spend time at home with family and miss matches as a result.

"It's still early days with the bubbles. We don't know how long it's going to last for. There's an uncertainty there," Smith said. "It's just going to be about having open conversations with coaches, general managers, whoever, to ensure that people are keeping their head space in a reasonable place.

"Then there's obviously going to be questions around selection. If someone takes some time off because they've been in the bubble for a long time and then someone comes in and plays well, do they take their spot?

"When guys are starting to find things a bit tough mentally from just living in the bubble, being able to get out - even if it might just be a few days of being normal might be a real help. Those conversations need to be had."

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