New Delhi, July 2: Former Australian captain Steve Waugh has emphasized that diversity was a key factor behind the selection strategy of the Amsterdam Flames in the inaugural European T20 Premier League (ETPL) 2026 player draft. He noted that the franchise intentionally prioritized multi-skilled cricketers over specialist batsmen.
The Amsterdam Flames entered the draft with a strong core, featuring notable players such as Australia’s T20 captain Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Tim David, and Netherlands captain Scott Edwards. This allowed the franchise to focus on building balance around their star players.
In the draft, the Flames utilized four of their six picks on all-rounders, led by Ireland’s Curtis Campher. When asked if there was a shift in prioritizing traditional batting depth, Waugh stated that this strategy was developed in collaboration with head coach Ryan Cook.
During a media interaction following the ETPL 2026 player draft, Waugh responded to a question by saying, “Yes, we have a lot of all-rounders. Coach Ryan Cook focused on players who can play different roles and maintain balance within the team.”
The Flames selected Curtis Campher first, followed by Kyle Klein, Tim Pringle, Aryan Dutt, Jordan Neale, and Max O’Dowd. However, there was a noticeable inclination towards all-rounders in the draft.
Waugh remarked, “We have some amazing players. There are international players who are specialist batsmen—Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, and Tim David. I mean, they are three outstanding players, perhaps the best three batsmen in T20 cricket. Additionally, we emphasized players who, despite being considered all-rounders, can contribute significantly with the bat.”
He added, “We are also looking at several other players with diverse skills. Having players who can easily switch roles will be crucial in the shortest format, especially in a new competition where varying conditions across Europe are expected.”
Waugh also praised Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee and Canada’s Yuvraj Samra.
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