Big Bash League: Cricket Australia allows West Indian all-rounder Andre Russel to use black bat

Cricket Australia has finally allowed West Indian all-rounder Andre Russel to his black bat after making modifications. Earlier the board had withdrawn support for the black bat used by West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell in the Big Bash T20 League for Sydney Thunder, stating the bat left marks on the white ball.

“We’re now satisfied that the bat will not compromise the integrity of the game by discolouring the match ball and we have granted approval for Andre to use the bat in any future BBL matches,” said league chief Anthony Everard.

Read The Black Bat Controversy of Big Bash League

Sydney Sixers wicket keeper Brad Haddin had alleged that the ball had four black marks after Russell came in to bat. The league has been familiar with experiments on the colour of bats as earlier Chris Gayle had used a golden bat manufactured by Spartan in the 2015 Big Bash League.