Several Australian players will have limited participation in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2023-24 due to preparations for the Sri Lanka tour. Steven Smith will play only three BBL games before the tour, while Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja will feature in just one. These restrictions are part of personalized plans developed by Cricket Australia’s high-performance team. Travis Head and the Australian bowlers, including Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, will be rested entirely before the Sri Lanka tour.
While Smith, Labuschagne, and Khawaja will play fewer matches, other players like Alex Carey, Sam Konstas, and Mitchell Marsh are cleared to participate fully in the BBL. However, none of the squad members selected for the Sri Lanka tour will be available for the BBL finals, which take place between January 21-27. The squad is expected to be announced soon, with a departure for a pre-tour camp in the UAE around January 19-20.
Smith will miss the Sydney Sixers’ clash with the Melbourne Stars but will play against the Perth Scorchers on January 13. Labuschagne and Khawaja will feature in Brisbane Heat’s match against the Hurricanes on January 16 but won’t be available for their final BBL game on January 18. Players like Carey and Webster may also make staggered departures to the UAE to fulfill both their BBL and international commitments.
Cricket Australia’s high-performance team emphasized that the decision to restrict players’ BBL appearances was based on individual recovery needs after the intense Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, ensuring players are well-prepared for the Sri Lanka Tests and other upcoming international tours.
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