DRS confirmed for BBL and WBBL, Bash Boost and X-Factor scrapped

The BBL and WBBL will finally have a Decision Review System (DRS) in place for the coming season. Meanwhile, the Bash Boost point and X-Factor have been scrapped with the Power Surge set to come into the WBBL for the first time.

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Cricket Australia announced a raft of changes to the BBL and WBBL competitions on Thursday. An innings clock is also to be introduced for the BBL only. The teams will need to bowl their 20 overs inside 79 minutes, minus some allowances. However, else they will incur a penalty of only having four fielders outside the circle for the remainder of the innings.

Under the DRS rules, the teams will be given one unsuccessful review per innings and 15 seconds to review any decision. Reviews will be retained for a decision that remains 'Umpire's call".

DRS will be in place for every BBL match this coming season. However, only in 24 of the 59 WBBL matches because of the broadcast arrangement. Only 24 WBBL matches will be produced by the host broadcaster Channel Seven. The rest of the matches are to be streamed online and simulcast on Foxtel. The streamed matches will not have the necessary technology available and will be played without DRS.

CA released a statement saying "the league will continue to strive towards greater DRS coverage for future WBBL seasons" with the hope that the next broadcast deal, is likely to be in effect in 2024-25. So, this will mean that all WBBL matches will be televised and have DRS.

WBBL to feature Power Surge

The WBBL will feature the Power Surge for the first time in the competition's history. The traditional six-over powerplay is to be reduced to four overs with a two-over surge introduced. The surge will be called by the batting team in the final ten overs of the innings with just two fielders outside the circle for those two overs.

The surge has been a popular introduction to the BBL in recent seasons. However, CA has decided to add the innovation to the WBBL despite it not being part of international cricket.

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The Bash Boost and the X-Factor were not as popular innovations and CA has decided to scrap both after listening to feedback from teams and fans.

Teams will now return to naming a standard playing XI, with only substitute fielders and concussion substitutes available as per normal. Meanwhile, competition points will revert to two for a win. One for a tie or no result, and zero for a loss.

The WBBL gets underway on October 13 while the BBL will commence on December 13.