Former Australian cricketer Ed Cowan has cautioned that the Big Bash League (BBL) risks losing control if it rushes into privatisation, warning that once the process begins, it can 'spiral quickly out of control.' His remarks come after Cricket Australia (CA) recently opened the door to private investment in the league, while retaining a 'self-determination model' that gives individual states the final say on whether — and when — to sell their stakes.

Cowan's Case for Caution

Cowan argued that the BBL has already demonstrated its ability to attract elite global talent without needing private capital. Ben Stokes is set to play for Adelaide, while Finn Allen has signed what has been described as a 'mega deal.' He pushed back against the frequently cited argument that the league risks losing players to rival competitions, such as the South African T20 League.

'We haven't lost one yet,' Cowan noted, adding that the business could first be run more effectively before any decision to 'sell star assets' is made. 'When you start burning the furniture to warm the house, it can spiral quickly out of control from there,' he warned.

Cricket Australia's Privatisation Move

CA recently confirmed it would invite bids for a 100 per cent stake in the Melbourne Renegades, with the club expected to begin the 2027-28 WBBL and BBL season under new private ownership. The decision marks one of the most significant structural shifts in Australian domestic cricket's commercial history.

The league had already made adjustments — reshaping scheduling, the salary cap, and international player recruitment — that, according to Cowan, demonstrate flexibility without requiring ownership changes.

Cummins and Molineux Back Privatisation

Not all Australian cricket voices share Cowan's reservations. Australia Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins and women's captain Sophie Molineux have both voiced support for privatisation. 'Privatisation, if done well, can be a great thing for the sport,' Cummins said. 'Test cricket is so important for me, and I think this sets us up really well for the future.'

Molineux, who captains the Renegades in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL), was equally optimistic. 'New investors, new opportunities to be able to innovate and grow the game,' she said, adding that private investment could make the WBBL 'even better.'

Cricket NSW Opposes the Move

Cricket NSW, which operates both the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder, has been among the most vocal opponents of privatisation. It has consistently rejected the proposal and questioned the financial assumptions underpinning CA's decision.

'Cricket NSW is disappointed by Cricket Australia's decision to proceed with introducing private investment into the Big Bash Leagues without alignment across Australian cricket,' the body said in a statement. 'This decision risks leaving cricket in NSW and Australia strategically and financially worse off, with direct consequences for our ability to invest in grassroots cricket.'

The state body also warned that redistributing profits to external investors would reduce funding available for community cricket, creating 'long-term impacts at all levels.' With CA pressing ahead and key states still divided, the debate over who controls the future of Australia's premier T20 leagues is only beginning.