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Big Bash Confirms Designated Batter and Fielder Rule for 2026–27 Season

The new option is pitched as a tactical tool to keep marquee hitters on the park more often by reducing fielding demands.

Overview

  • Teams may nominate a designated batter and a designated fielder before the toss, with the batter allowed only to bat and the fielder only to field or keep wicket, and the pair switching at the innings break.
  • Neither designated role is permitted to bowl under the new conditions.
  • Use of the provision is optional each match, and clubs can still name a traditional XI if they prefer.
  • The change is locked in for the men's BBL from BBL|16, with application to the WBBL still under review.
  • League officials and former players, including Alistair Dobson, Ricky Ponting and Glenn Maxwell, say the move should extend careers, manage workloads and add strategy, and it is more prescriptive than the IPL's impact-player rule.