The ongoing edition of the Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia is off to a flier, as the season is set to be the longest of all, just like the Indian Premier League (IPL). Meanwhile, this season has seen the introduction of a new rule, known as the 'X-Factor Substitute', as Matthew Short became the first player to be a part of the new law.
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It was on Tuesday, during the BBL clash of Adelaide Strikers, against Hobart Hurricanes, at the University of Tasmania Stadium, when the Strikers brought in Short in place of Danny Briggs. As the track looked a seam-friendly one, The Hurricanes too made a similar change, by bringing in Mac Wright for Johan Botha.
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As for the change, it was owing to the seam-friendly track that saw Briggs conceding 15 runs in an over. Meanwhile, Botha did not play a single ball, before being replaced by Wright and managing to score 15 off 14 balls, while Short conceded eight, as he was dismissed for an unfortunate duck, later.
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X-Factor Substitution rule: According to Wikipedia, "An 'X-factor Player', named as either the 12th or 13th player on the team sheet, can come into the game beyond the 10th over of the first innings and replace any player who is yet to bat, or has bowled no more than one over."
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Match summary: Winning the toss, Strikers elected to bowl first, as the Hurricanes posted a modest total of 146 in 19.3 overs, with Ben McDermott and Colin Ingram scoring 46 each, while Peter Siddle claimed 516. In reply, the Strikers pulled off the match by five wickets, with eight balls to spare, courtesy Jake Weatherald's unbeaten 68 and Alex Carey's 55.
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