Australia’s Test stars could be available for the final three weeks of next summer’s Big Bash League in a massive boost for the domestic T20 tournament.
Cricket Australia unveiled the schedule for the 14th edition of the BBL on Friday morning, with the 44-match competition getting underway on Sunday, December 15.
During the regular season, Big Bash matches have been scheduled on every evening except Christmas and Christmas Eve, with the tournament wrapping up within the school holidays.
Adelaide Oval will once again host the annual New Year’s Fixture with the Strikers taking on the Perth Scorchers on December 31, while the two Melbourne derbies are scheduled for January 4 (MCG) and January 12 (Docklands).
The final will take place on Monday, January 27, the day after the Australian Open concludes in Melbourne.
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Australia’s final match of the highly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India will be the New Year’s Test in Sydney, which concludes on Tuesday, January 7.
Courtesy of the competition’s marquee supplementary player rule, Australia’s Test players should be available to join the BBL for its closing stages pending fitness and workload management.
As of last season, each franchise can sign two nationally-contracted players that have limited availability without taking up one of the spots on their 18-man roster.
Usman Khawaja (Brisbane Heat), Nathan Lyon (Melbourne Renegades), Scott Boland (Melbourne Stars) and Mitch Marsh (Scorchers) have already penned deals ahead of the 2024/25 season, while Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith are out of contract with the Heat and Sydney Sixers respectively.
Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc has not played a Big Bash game in nearly a decade, a drought that could end in January.
“This is a brilliant schedule for fans, with uninterrupted action every night of the regular season and all the marquee games our fans love,” CA’s Head of Big Bash League Alistair Dobson said in a statement.
“We also can’t wait to welcome back members of the Australian Test team once again in January, taking advantage of a bigger window following the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Series.
“The shift to an optimised competition length last season, together with the recruitment of world class players, led to incredible crowds and experiences off the field and cricket on it. We can’t wait to see that grow in BBL|14.”
The Big Bash’s new multi-year contract option, which allows players to negotiate with teams directly rather than nominating for the draft, has already seen the likes of wicketkeeper Sam Billings and all-rounder Tom Curran commit to the entire tournament.
However, the BBL is still expected to lose several overseas players to rival T20 leagues for the second half of the competition, with the United Arab Emirates’ ILT20 commencing on January 11 and South Africa’s SA20 getting underway on January 9.
BBL Fixtures for 2024/25 season
All times local
Sunday, December 15, 2024 — Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Stars at Optus Stadium, 4:15PM
Monday, December 16, 2024 — Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Renegades at the SCG, 7.15pm
Tuesday, December 17, 2024 — Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers at Manuka Oval, 7:15pm
Wednesday, December 18, 2024 — Melbourne Stars vs Brisbane Heat at the MCG, 7:15pm
Thursday, December 19, 2024 — Melbourne Renegades vs Hobart Hurricanes at GMHBA Stadium, 7.15pm
Friday, December 20, 2024 — Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars at Adelaide Oval, 6.45pm
Saturday, December 21, 2024 — Hobart Hurricanes vs Perth Scorchers at Blundstone Arena, 4pm
Saturday, December 21, 2024 — Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers at ENGIE Stadium, 7.15pm
Sunday, December 22, 2024 — Brisbane Heat vs Adelaide Strikers at the Gabba, 6.15pm
Monday, December 23, 2024 — Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers at Marvel Stadium, 7:15pm
Thursday, December 26, 2024 — Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Stars at the SCG, 6.05pm
Thursday, December 26, 2024 — Perth Scorchers vs Brisbane Heat at Optus Stadium, 6:15pm
Friday, December 27, 2024 — Adelaide Strikers vs Hobart Hurricanes at Adelaide Oval, 6:45pm
Saturday, December 28, 2024 — Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder at Manuka Oval, 7:15PM
Sunday, December 29, 2024 — Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixers at the Gabba, 6:15pm
Monday, December 30, 2024 — Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Renegades at ENGIE Stadium, 7:15PM
Tuesday, December 31, 2024 — Adelaide Strikers vs Perth Scorchers at Adelaide Oval, 6:45pm
Wednesday, January 1, 2025 — Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Sixers, Blundstone Arena, 4pm
Wednesday, January 1, 2025 — Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Stars at the Gabba, 6:15pm
Thursday, January 2, 2025 — Melbourne Renegades vs Adelaide Strikers at Marvel Stadium, 7:15pm
Friday, January 3, 2025 — Sydney Sixers vs Brisbane Heat at C.ex Coffs International Stadium, 6:05pm
Friday, January 3, 2025 — Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Thunder at Optus Stadium, 6.15pm
Saturday, January 4, 2025 — Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades at the MCG, 7:15pm
Sunday, January 5, 2025 — Hobart Hurricanes vs Adelaide Strikers at Blundstone Arena, 7:15pm
Monday, January 6, 2025 — Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder at the Gabba, 6.15pm
Tuesday, January 7, 2025 — Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Renegades at Optus Stadium, 4.15pm
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 — Sydney Thunder vs Hobart Hurricanes at ENGIE Stadium, 7:15pm
Thursday, January 9, 2025 — Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Sixers at the MCG, 7:15pm
Friday, January 10, 2025 — Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder at Blundstone Arena, 7:15pm
Saturday, January 11, 2025 — Sydney Sixers vs Perth Scorchers at the SCG, 4:45pm
Saturday, January 11, 2025 — Adelaide Strikers vs Brisbane Heat at Adelaide Oval, 7:30pm
Sunday, January 12, 2025 — Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars at Marvel Stadium, 7:15pm
Monday, January 13, 2025 — Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers at ENGIE Stadium, 7:30pm
Tuesday, January 14, 2025 — Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Renegades, Blundstone Arena, 7:30pm
Wednesday, January 15, 2025 — Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Sixers at Adelaide Oval, 7pm
Thursday, January 16, 2025 — Brisbane Heat vs Hobart Hurricanes at the Gabba, 6.30pm
Friday, January 17, 2025 — Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunder at the SCG, 7:15pm
Saturday, January 18, 2025 — Melbourne Renegades vs Brisbane Heat at Marvel Stadium, 5pm
Saturday, January 18, 2025 — Perth Scorchers vs Adelaide Strikers at Optus Stadium, 5.15pm
Sunday, January 19, 2025 — Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes at the MCG, 7.15pm
Tuesday, January 21, 2025 — The Qualifier (TBC)
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 — The Knockout (TBC)
Friday, January 24, 2025 — The Challenger (TBC)
Monday, January 27, 2025 — The Final (TBC)
Tuesday, January 28, 2025 — Reserve Day (TBC)