Cricket Australia rejects the Stars' last-second attempt to add international star to squad

The Melbourne Stars have had their bid to add English batsman Dan Lawrence to their squad for their clash against the Thunder denied by Cricket Australia, according to Tom Morris.

With Tom Curran suffering a calf injury at training, the Stars attempted to find a replacement and Lawrence just happened to be in Perth.

However, Morris explains that Cricket Australia has put its foot down given the potential “Pandora’s Box” of international players being signed up last second.

“It sort of reminds me of when Cricket Australia said no to Steve Smith playing for the Sydney Sixers because the rules and regulations didn't allow for it,” Morris told SEN’s The New Ball.

“Probably on a lesser level, but nonetheless it has frustrated the Melbourne Stars overnight. It's gone from bad to worse for the Stars, who've lost import Tom Curran to a calf strain.

“A very important player for them, the Stars are facing the Thunder in Canberra tonight. This is how it has played out. The Stars submitted their squad with Curran named – and he was fit at 5:00 PM yesterday. Then at 6:00 PM, Curran hurt himself at training in Canberra. He nicked a calf.

“He is likely to return to Melbourne in the next 24 hours for further scans. So, the Stars got to work, they investigated who they could bring in to replace Tom Curran as the overseas replacement player. Joe Clarke has left the country, so they applied to replace Curran with Dan Lawrence, who played for them last season and is currently in Perth.

“But much to the frustration of the Stars, the application was rejected. The reason? Because Lawrence isn't a squad member.”

“Now, I’ve spoken to Cricket Australia this morning, they maintain you can't have clubs cherry picking any player in world cricket from outside their contract list. If it was Joe Clarke or Adam Milne, fair play, but it can't be Daniel Lawrence, just as it can't be Joe Root, just as it can't be any other player in world cricket.

“They say it would open Pandora's Box and speak to the integrity of the competition. The Stars argue the BBL should have the best players playing and this is over officious.

“Cricket Australia argues it would set a dangerous precedent and this is not a cowboy competition. That's not a quote. That's my understanding.”

The winless Stars, now without Curran, look likely for another tough BBL campaign.