BBL Draft 2024: Lockie Ferguson, Sherfane Rutherford join Sydney Thunder, Hobart Hurricanes sign Shai Hope

Sydney Thunder finished at the bottom of the table in the 2023-24 season. Ahead of the next season, they signed Lockie Ferguson and Sherfane Rutherford to change the situation and challenge for the title. However, none of the cricketers have played in the Big Bash League previously but will be coming with a plethora of experience in franchise cricket.

Lockie has played for several years in the IPL, MLC, The Hundred and the Vitality Blast. He has represented New Zealand in 42 T20I matches and picked up 61 wickets at an economy rate of 7.15. Recently, in the IPL, he was one of the costliest players in the league when Kolkata Knight Riders signed him for INR 10 crore in IPL 2023. 

Rutherford, on the other hand, has played 143 T20 matches in his career and scored 2371 runs at a strike rate of 134.33. He is someone who can be effective with the ball as well. Meanwhile, the franchise also signed Sam Billings in a pre-draft contract. 

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Thunder’s city rival Sixers have signed Jafer Chohan in the BBL draft. The English cricketer has barely any experience and hasn’t played in The Hundred as well. However, the franchise showed trust in the leg-spinner. Sixers have also retained James Vince and pre-signed Akeal Hossain.

Hobart Hurricanes, on the other hand, signed West Indies international Shai Hope. The 30-year-old keeper-batter played for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024 where he scored 183 runs in nine matches. He is currently playing for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the CPL and scored 41 runs off 34 balls in the first game against Antigua and Barbuda. Interestingly, Hobart also signed Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain and announced Chris Jordan as their pre-signing.

Defending champions Brisbane Heat signed Paul Walter for the upcoming season. The England all-rounder was very average in The Hundred in 2024, in which he scored 86 runs in eight matches and picked up just three wickets at an economy rate of 10.24. Brisbane also announced Colin Munro as their pre-signed player.

BBL Draft picks:

Melbourne Stars: Ben Duckett, Tom Curran (pre-signed), Usama Mir

Melbourne Renegades: Laurie Evans, Jacob Bethell, Tim Seifert (pre-signed)

Sydney Thunder: Lockie Ferguson, Sam Billings (pre-signed), Sherfane Rutherford

Hobart Hurricanes: Shai Hope, Chris Jordan (pre-signed), Rishad Hossain

Adelaide Strikers: Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope (pre-signed), Fabian Allen

Brisbane Heat: Colin Munro (pre-signed), Paul Walter

Perth Scorchers: Finn Allen (pre-signed), Matthew Hurst, Keaton Jennings

Sydney Sixers: James Vince (retained), Akeal Hosein (pre-signed), Jafer Chohan