The Bash Boost rule was one of the three new rules introduced in the 2020-21 season of the Big Bash League. The rule was implemented to increase the thrill of a run-chase midway into the second innings.
According to the rule, if the chasing team had scored more points at the end of the 10th over compared to the opposition at the same stage of their innings, then the chasing side will get a bonus “Bash Boost” point at the end of the match. If a team wins with the bonus point, then they get a total of 4 points (3 for winning and 1 Bash Boost point).
The rule was heavily scrutinized in the two seasons that it lasted for. The idea of a run chase was thrilled but the discrepancy in the points table was frowned upon. According to a Cricbuzz report that analysed the points table of the 2020-21 season, “The three teams at the top of the league phase points table as well as the bottom two would have finished at the same spots had Boost Points been not there.” The report further elaborated, “While the concept of Bash Boost points did create some drama mid innings, the approach by some teams towards it looked confused…”. It emphasised on the dilemma that at times, the additional boost point was as important as the win itself.
Thus, taking into consideration these loopholes, the idea of Bash Boost points was scrapped off by the 2022-23 season. The traditional system of 3 points for a win, 1 for a tie/no result and 0 for losses was reverted back starting in the 2022-23 season.
