Cricket authorities are "considering the introduction of a draft in what could be a revolutionary change to the game in Australia," according to Chris Barrett of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Cricket Australia GM of Team Performance Pat Howard will meet "representatives from the states, the Australian Cricketers' Association and CA board members in Sydney on Thursday to discuss plans to compete with other codes for young talent and more evenly distribute emerging players across the country." A possible draft, whereby Australia's top teenage prospects could be "spread around the states in an effort to give them more
opportunities at an earlier age and increase the competitiveness of the domestic competitions," will be one of the "lead talking points." It would be a "landmark change to the game, which aside from the free agency of the Big Bash League has been based around state loyalties since first-class cricket was first played in Australia more than 150 years ago." A rookie draft would "likely be met by strong opposition from big states like NSW, who would bristle at the idea of losing players that have been produced inside their borders" (SMH, 10/13).
