What is the MLC Draft?
The inaugural Major League Cricket (MLC) tournament is just around the corner, and excitement is beginning to build following a historical and glitzy draft night back in March at the Houston Space Center, in Texas, where the domestic player draft took centre stage.
The Houston Space Center felt an apt venue for the event, given stars are discovered every day. The great and the good of US cricket will hope their star is rising following draft night, which included nine rounds of picking, some familiar names to the international fan, and some relative unknowns, too.
But how did the MLC draft work? Which franchises had the best night?
We answer all those questions and more in our full MLC Draft below.
What was the MLC Draft Format?
Those familiar with US sports will know all about the prestige and excitement surrounding a draft. For example, in 2018, the NFL Draft telecasts attracted more than 47.5 million viewers across the three-day event. There wasn'twasn't quite the same hype for the MLC draft, but a packed conference hall was treated to plenty of prestige and a rousing speech by Houston congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
Before the draft, a randomized order draw was held in front of franchise officials, attributing the order of picks to teams. The Seattle Orcas landed the first pick, with Washington Freedom going second, and MI New York, San Francisco Unicorns, LA Knight Riders, and Texas Super Kings following suit, respectively.
Once the draft begins, a snake format is enforced. The team that picks first in the first round picks last in the next round, the team that picks second in the first round picks second-last in the next round, and so on.
There is a school of thought that the best draft pick position to maintain is the middling position because you get the most solid stable of talent. Franchise officials can draft players from both ends of the spectrum - high-value targets and those who may be overlooked and have great value. With this kind of flexibility, a team can create a balanced roster and make sure they don't miss out on any potential hidden gems. The middle position in a snake draft also gives teams a better chance at snagging players that others may have overlooked or not considered when making their picks.
Which MLC Franchise had the Best Night?
It's hard to get away from the San Francisco Unicorns, who managed to bag two experienced internationals in their first two rounds despite being a domestic draft for US-based players. Ex-New Zealand international Corey Anderson can qualify to play for the USA because of his American fiance. He has designs on representing the US national team, but first, he'she's going to be strutting his stuff in San Francisco colours. Ex-England heavy hitter Liam Plunkett can also qualify for the domestic draft because of his marriage to an American citizen.
Both all-rounders have made their names for being impactful, exciting, and, in one instance, record-breaking. In 2014, Anderson broke the world record for the fastest-ever ton recorded in One Day International (ODI) history, hitting a 36-ball century for the Kiwis against the West Indies. Plunkett, meanwhile, capped his international career with three wickets in the epic 2019 ODI World Cup final. He registered 25 wickets in T20I cricket at an average of 25.08 and is considered a legend among England supporters.
Both add depth to the batting and bowling stakes and join with other international acquisitions Aaron Finch and Marcus Stoinis. We have tipped the Unicorns to do well this year, in no small part down to their superb work in the domestic draft.
MI New York also did well, sweeping up record US run-scorer Steven Taylor and ex-Pakistan international Hammad Azam as their first and second picks.
When do MLC Teams Sign More Players
The domestic player draft isn't the end of the signing spree for some franchises, many of which have a further $800,000 in reserve to attract their desired players
Some teams, such as the San Francisco Unicorns, have already been making moves for some of cricket's most prominent international talent. However, there is no pre-set deadline for when big-player acquisitions need to be announced. As we get closer to the beginning of the tournament in July, we will likely see more of the sport'ssport's biggest stars move across the pond.
In Conclusion...
The Major League Cricket draft allows teams to build a roster based on their scouting and research departments' evaluations of players' potential and talent. It also encourages players to work hard to get noticed by Major League Cricket teams. By utilizing the MLC draft, teams are able to assemble a roster of talented players who can compete at the highest level of cricket in the United States.