Big Bash likely to introduce IPL-style Orange and Purple Cap awards

Cricket Australia is thinking of following  IPL’s lead by awarding a coloured cap to the highest wicket-taker and run-scorer at any given time throughout this summer’s Big Bash League.

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According to reports from a leading Australian media network, the governing body has consulted key stakeholders on the concept, which has been hugely popular in the IPL since its inception.

In India’s premier tournament, the top run-getter of the tournament must wear an orange cap for as long as he’s on top of the charts, while the bowler with the most wickets must don a purple cap.

The coloured caps are passed from player to player as the tournament goes on. Cricket Australia had given the concept a thought even last year but later decided against it. The concept has been raised at Jolimont again this year and is receiving tremendous support but is not yet confirmed.

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Orange and Purple cap in BBL?

If the concept is introduced, the initiative will add another layer to BBL games who have introduced strategic time-outs for the first time in the upcoming edition. Teams can call for a 90-second break whenever they want between overs 7-13 of their batting innings. The IPL has had two-and-a-half-minute strategic time-outs for years now.

It's still not clear whether Cricket Australia would follow the IPL’s exact regulations, but if it does it would mean the following:

-In a situation where two or more batsmen have scored equal runs, the batsman with the better strike-rate would wear the cap

– In a situation where two or more bowlers have taken the same number of wickets, the bowler who has delivered fewer balls would wear the cap

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– If a batsman becomes the leading run-scorer mid-innings and the incumbent is fielding in a coloured cap, he wouldn’t be required to relinquish the cap until the end of the innings

– It's entirely possible a batsman or bowler could be awarded the cap at the end of a game but lose the rights to wear it by the time his next match starts.

– At the end of the tournament, the leading run-scorer and wicket-taker will each be awarded coloured caps.

David Warner won the orange cap for most runs, while Imran Tahir won the purple cap in the 2019 IPL

BBL season nine starts on December 17 and concludes on February 6. Cricket Australia has reduced this summer’s version by almost two weeks.

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