The men’s Big Bash League will encompass a 43-match season from next summer, Cricket Australia has announced. The competition had already been scheduled to be reduced by 16 games from 2024/25 onwards, but the organisers have now confirmed that the changes will be introduced 12 months ahead of schedule.
That will mean that the entirety of the regular season of 40 matches can take place within the Christmas school holidays, while the shorter fixture list is also likely to entice more big-name international stars to travel to Australia to compete. No changes as yet have been announced regarding the women’s Big Bash League, which is expected to continue in its 59-game format.
Changes Brought Forward
The reduced schedule was initially publicized in January 2023, when Cricket Australia penned a new seven-year deal with Seven West Media and the Foxtel Group to televise its matches. As well as screening major international Tests and T20 events, the accord also provides for the broadcasting of 33 of the BBL’s 43 matches, as well as just under half (23) of the WBBL ties.
However, Cricket Australia has now confirmed that it will not wait for that 2024-31 TV deal to kick into place before shortening the tournament. As such, fans who wish to keep tabs on the BBL live score in 2023 can do so entirely within the Christmas holidays, while those who cannot wait that long can partake of the simulated reality league (SRL) to get their fix of cricketing action.
A Number of Reasons
The switch has been instigated due to a number of reasons. After the tournament was expanded to 14 home and away matches for each team in 2018, there was a general feeling that it was in danger of becoming bloated. Indeed, attendance figures at matches slumped in the two years prior to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, which prompted speculation about how to address the issue.
As well as spicing things up by making the competition shorter, the decision will also allow more marquee players from overseas nations to participate without sacrificing their domestic commitments. At the same time, there should be an increased opportunity for Australian white-ball stars to make the transition to the red-ball competition.
WBBL Unchanged
While the adjustments to the men’s tournament will come into effect for the next tournament at the end of this year, the WBBL will remain the same for now. That’s because the 14-game regular season of the women’s incarnation is the pinnacle of their sporting summer and so there is more prestige associated with a longer competition.
“It’s vital that we make sure the tournament continues to be at the forefront of T20 leagues as the global women’s game continues to evolve at a rapid rate,” explained Alistair Dobson, general manager of the BBL. “As a league we’re always reviewing and looking at ways we can evolve, adapt and innovate, and as part of that we’ll continue to consider the structure of the WBBL season.”
Unlike the world of soccer, which simply seems to continue elongating the sporting calendar every year in order to maximise revenues, Cricket Australia has taken the sensible decision to enhance the excitement of the BBL by keeping it short and succinct.
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