English star Sam Billings is confident the Big Bash League will reap rewards from the new multi-year contract option, saying it doesn't help anyone when players are half-committed.
Former Brisbane Heat batter Billings missed out on the triumph over the Sydney Sixers after jetting out early for the United Arab Emirates' lucrative ILT20.
Billings and fellow import Colin Munro watched from afar as the Heat claimed their first BBL title in 11 years with a 54-run win at the SCG.
The white-ball specialist has now signed for the Thunder on a three-year deal, committing to seeing out the new season from start to finish.
He was the first men's player to sign under the league's new multi-year contract option for overseas players, which requires players to see out the full season, rather than leave early or arrive late to link up with rival T20 leagues.
The change was made after the league also condensed its schedule last summer with the hope of enticing star players to stay for a higher percentage of games.
Billings backed the latest change.
"It's huge for me individually but also as a tournament, as well as a whole," Billings said on Tuesday.
"It doesn't help anyone, no one benefits out of that situation with people jetting in and out everywhere.
"As players, you want to play in those big games. It was just the way it happened that I'd already agreed to that contract previously.
"Everyone was very aware that all these international players were going to leave. They signed us on the basis of that.
"I don't think it was anyone's fault. Now by allowing these kind of pre-draft, these long-term contracts, I think then everyone wins out that situation.
"There's that consistency. I want to play for one team, back year on year and competing for titles."
Sixers mainstay James Vince, another Englishman, was also absent from the final.
“It was hard to watch from afar,” Vince said on Tuesday.
“It ebbed and flowed, didn't it? It was a typical Sixers game, but we came out on the wrong side.”
Vince will again be leaving the Sixers' campaign, having committed to a maximum of eight games, but has flagged seeking out a longer deal.
“It's a priority of mine,” Vince said.
“They obviously made a couple of adjustments with the draft rules and being able to sign people outside of the draft to lock down availability.
“If I can do well enough here to get myself here next year, I'd love to be available for competition.
“It's hard to say goodbye, particularly when finals are coming up and some of the best memories have been here, winning finals and spending the evening and the next day with the lads.”
The Sixers return to action on Monday against the Melbourne Renegades, with the Thunder to play the Adelaide Strikers the next day.
