We will no longer get to see Andre Russell’s black bat during the ongoing season of the Big Bash League (BBL) after it was banned by Cricket Australia (CA) on Wednesday.
Russell, who is turning out for the Sydney Thunder, walked out to bat with a black bat during the first match of BBL 2016/17 on Tuesday. He scored just nine as the Thunder lost to city rivals the Sydney Sixers by nine wickets.
CA had, interestingly, approved the use of the bat before the start of the tournament but had a change of mind after getting feedback from the match officials who were involved in the Sydney derby.
I don't have an OLED tv so I didn't even know Andre Russell had any bat at all
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) December 21, 2016
The head of the BBL Anthony Everard mentioned that there were black marks left on the ball used during the Thunder’s innings and that is the reason why they have disapproved the bat.
“The match officials provided feedback to Cricket Australia that the bat used by Andre left black marks on the match ball,” said Everard.
“As a result, we have decided to withdraw our approval for Andre to use the bat that was used last night as the colour solution used by the manufacturer was discolouring the ball.”
The Sydney Thunder travel to Melbourne to face the Renegades at the Docklands on Thursday.
