From the 2026-27 edition, a new rule will be seen in the Big Bash League (BBL) of designated batter and designated fielder. The BBL has integrated this rule so keep power-hitters and bigger names in the tournament.
Earlier, the BBL had also tried the ‘X-Factor’ rule for a couple of seasons, but that was binned. Now, Australia’s marquee T20 league is set for a ‘designated batter’ rule, which Melbourne Stars’ Glenn Maxwell feels “adds something to the tournament”.
BBL player acquisition and cricket consultant Trent Woodhill has affirmed that cricketers “around the world” have given a positive feedback to this new rule.
Explained: What is the designated batter and fielder rule in the BBL?
The ‘designated batter and fielder’ rule will be implemented in the 2026-27 BBL season. This rule will allow teams to name a ‘designated batter’ – a player who will only bat and not field or bowl – and therefore, that team will also name a ‘designated fielder’ – a player who will be allowed to only field and not bat or bowl.
This is an optional rule for the teams. They can choose their playing XI as usual, but some teams can have players (designated batter) whose lack of fitness or workload management would mean that they are better off only batting, and then they can take rest while being substituted by the ‘designated fielder,’ who’d only field.
The ‘designated fielder’ can also keep wicket if desired.
Is BBL’s ‘designated batter’ rule similar to IPL’s ‘Impact Player’?
This ‘designated batter’ rule is not too dissimilar from IPL’s ‘Impact Player’ rule, for the difference that the Impact Player is allowed to perform all roles.
Players such as Mitchell Marsh and Chris Lynn could benefit from this rule. Given their aging bodies and lack of elite fitness levels, they have slowed down in the field, but they remain impactful as a batsman.
Further, this rule would also allow teams to keep their players fresher and not exhaust them after they play international cricket. Adelaide’s Travis Head skipped the BBL 2025-26 season after being part of the five-Test Ashes series.
Through this rule, batsmen will be able to continue playing their role of a batsman while not expending their energies in the field.
Australian legend Ricky Ponting has backed this rule, opining that younger players will get exposure by being on the field even as a ‘designated fielder.’
“Some of these guys might be at a stage of their career where they feel that they can’t make much of an impact [in the field]. They also might be worried about picking up an injury while they’re in the field, which is another big part of it,” Ponting said on Seven.
“And what this tournament doesn’t want is to have these guys not playing, especially at this stage of the tournament when the big games are coming around. We all want to be seeing the best players playing, so if this rule helps that and keeps the longevity up, then that’s great.”
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