File photo by Glenn Maxwell.© X (Twitter)
Cricket Australia on Friday revealed the schedule for the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) season, with Perth Scorchers hosting Melbourne Stars in the tournament opener on December 15. 14th edition of the Bash League. Defending champions Brisbane Heat will cap off an epic eight-day opening when they face the Adelaide Strikers on December 22. Sydney Thunder will host two games in the opening week – Adelaide Strikers at Canberra on December 17, before returning to their base in the western suburbs four days later for the first clash of the season on Saturday night, a blockbuster Sydney Smash against the Sixers.
That match will form part of a Super Saturday doubleheader with the Hobart Hurricanes to play their first home game of the season in a sunset game against the Scorchers at Blundstone Arena.
Australia’s men’s Test players will again have the opportunity to suit up for their Big Bash teams, with each club playing at least three regular season matches following the end of the fifth Border-Gavaskar Test on January 7.
Usman Khawaja (Heat), Nathan Lyon (Renegades) and Mitch Marsh (Scorchers) are currently the only Test regulars on BBL deals for next season, but they beat out Travis Head, Alex Carey (both forwards), Marnus Labuschagne (Heat) and Steve Smith (Sixers) have long-standing affiliations with their clubs and all remain confident of securing their deals for the tournament.
Clubs can also sign a maximum of two Cricket Australia-contracted players to a supplementary list, as the Sixers and Thunder did with Mitchell Starc and Test captain Pat Cummins respectively last season, and bring them into their squad if they are available.
“This is a brilliant schedule for fans, with non-stop action every night of the regular season and all the marquee games that our fans love,” said Alistair Dobson, general manager of CA’s Big Bash Leagues.
“We also can’t wait to welcome back members of the Australian Test team once again in January, taking advantage of a longer window following the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.”
The league finals series will follow the same four-game format as last season, starting with the qualifiers on January 21st and ending with the final on January 27th.
–IANS
ab/bc
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