BBL 2021-22: Perth Scorchers penalized for breaching central replacement player rule

Perth Scorchers have been on a roll in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) season. They currently occupy second place in the team standings having registered six wins from seven matches with 21 points to their tally. The Scorchers are tied with the defending champions Sydney Sixers at the same number of points but, it is the superior net run rate that separates both sides.

While the Sixers NRR is +1.26, Perth’s NRR reads +1.18. While the Scorchers are one of the strongest teams in this edition’s tournament, a wrong strategy from their end lately has cost them a Bash Boost point.

Perth Scorchers have been found guilty of breaching BBL contracting rules after using a central replacement player incorrectly during their six-wicket loss against Adelaide Strikers at Adelaide, Oval last Friday. Brayden Stepien was the central replacement player.

Perth Scorchers lose Bash Boost points for wrongly using central replacement player

Brayden Stepien was called by the last edition’s runners-up as a replacement player to don the wicket-keeper’s gloves in that contest for 14 overs after regular stumper Laurie Evans suffered an injury. The Scorchers were literally short of wicketkeeping options in the game as Josh Inglis was with the Australian Test squad for the Ashes series against arch-rivals England while Cameron Bancroft was down with COVID-19.

According to a statement issued by the Big Bash League, Commissioner Alan Sullivan, QC heard evidence from representatives of both teams as well as Cricket Australia (CA) during the hearing and came to a conclusion that Brayden Stepien was an ineligible player for the contest and therefore, the decision to field the wicketkeeper batter was a breach of the rules.

After Tuesday’s hearing, the Commissioner decided to penalise Perth Scorchers by deducting a Bash Boost point that they had earned in that game.  At the same time, it was also made clear that their Friday’s opponents Adelaide Strikers will not be awarded any Bash Boost point from that match.

Coming back to the on-field action, as the tournament nears its business end, the Scorchers would be hoping to up their game as they look to go one step further this year.