Big Bash League Explained

Big Bash League
Country:Australia
Administrator:Cricket Australia
First:2011–12
Last:2023–24
Next:2024–25
Tournament Format:Double round-robin and Knockout finals
Participants:8
Champions:Brisbane Heat (2nd title)
Most Successful:Perth Scorchers (5 titles)
Most Runs:Chris Lynn (3725)
Most Wickets:Sean Abbott (165)
Tv:Seven Network
Fox Cricket

The Big Bash League (known as the KFC Big Bash League for sponsorship reasons, often abbreviated to BBL or Big Bash) is an Australian men's professional club Twenty20 cricket league, which was established in 2011 by Cricket Australia. The Big Bash League replaced the previous competition, the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash, and features eight city-based franchises instead of the six state teams which had participated previously. The competition has been sponsored by fast food-chicken outlet KFC since its inception. It was in 2016/17 one of the two T20 cricket leagues, alongside the Indian Premier League, to feature amongst the top ten domestic sport leagues in average attendance. The winner of BBL 13 (2023/2024) was the Brisbane Heat, who beat the Sydney Sixers by 54 runs in the final.

BBL matches are played in Australia during the summer, in December, January and February.

Out of the eight teams in the tournament, six have won the title at least once. The Perth Scorchers are the most successful team in the league's short history, having won the title five times including consecutively for two years twice. The Sydney Sixers have won the title three times, including consecutively for two years. The other four teams that have won the title are the Brisbane Heat, with two titles, and the Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Renegades, and Sydney Thunder with one title each.

Before 2014, the top two teams in the tournament used to qualify for the Champions League Twenty20 tournament, which was an annual international Twenty20 competition played between the top domestic teams from various nations. The Champions League Twenty20 became defunct after its 2014 tournament.[1]

History

See also: KFC Twenty20 Big Bash.

Trophy

A design contest was held in 2011 to determine the design of the Big Bash League trophy. The competition was restricted to Australian designers, with the final design, chosen by the public from a field of three, revealed on 13 December 2011.[2] [3]

Expansion proposal

It had been proposed that the tournament would undergo expansion into more regional areas not supported by international cricket. The expansion was originally planned to be implemented in 2012. The proposed teams included: Newcastle, Canberra, Geelong, and Gold Coast. A New Zealand-based team was also mentioned as a possibility which would be based at Auckland or Christchurch, but this is unlikely to happen.[4] [5] The expansion proposal was suspended, mainly because the proposed cities lacked the proper cricket hosting facilities.[6] [7]

In 2015, former Black Caps captain and Melbourne Stars coach Stephen Fleming suggested the expansion of the tournament to include New Zealand teams and become a trans-Tasman competition. He said an expansion into New Zealand would be widely supported by locals.[8] His views were also supported by Brisbane Heat coach and former Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori.[9] Melbourne Renegades chief executive Stuart Coventry also stated that he wants Cricket Australia to grant each club a fifth home fixture next season. Coventry said the BBL was ready to expand from 8 to 10 games, and adding matches would further establish the franchises.[10]

In 2016, Anthony Everard, head of the BBL, flagged the league's intentions to approach expansion through a soft launch. He stated the short to medium term goal was to schedule BBL games involving existing franchises in regional markets before potentially adding new teams after the 2017–18 season when the broadcast deal expired. He also indicated the regional markets of Canberra, Geelong, Launceston, Gold Coast, and Alice Springs will likely host games during the soft launch period. On 27 January 2017, Everard announced an extra eight matches would be added to the 2017–18 season and implored each existing franchise to look at new markets when considering where the extra games would be played,[11] although the lengthened season was not implemented until 2018–19.

In 2018, it was reported that the Gold Coast Suns were interested in securing a Big Bash League franchise if the competition was expanded.[12]

Women's Big Bash League

See main article: Women's Big Bash League.

Former women's Test captain and Head of Brisbane's Centre of Excellence, Belinda Clark, revealed on 19 January 2014 that planning for a women's BBL was in its early stages but could become a reality very soon. She stated that the proposal was being considered due to the huge rise in television ratings during the 2013–14 season, and the rise in women's cricket popularity.[13]

On 19 February 2015, Cricket Australia announced that a Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) would commence in the 2015–16 season, with teams aligned to the men's competition. It was announced that the teams would share the names and colours of the existing men's BBL teams, meaning that there would be two teams from Sydney and Melbourne and one team from Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart, and Perth.[14]

The inaugural Women's Big Bash League was won by the Sydney Thunder against the Sydney Sixers by 3 wickets. The current champion from the 2022–23 Women's Big Bash League season is Adelaide Strikers who won their maiden WBBL title by defeating Sydney Thunder by 10 runs.

Christmas Day match

In December 2015, Cricket Australia revealed that they are looking into the possibility of hosting a Christmas Day BBL match in the coming years, possibly after the next season. If the proposal is passed, it would have been a first in the history of Australian sport since no professional matches had played in Australia on Christmas Day at that time. "It is something we have just recently started discussing, the possibilities of that. We're talking about playing a Christmas Eve match, we already play Boxing Day," CA's Executive GM (Operations) Mike McKenna said.[15] This has not yet occurred, but in September 2018, it was reported that Cricket Australia had struck a deal with the Players Association to play BBL matches on Christmas Day.[16] [17]

Tournament format

Since the inception of the BBL in 2011, the tournament format has changed a number of times.

The first BBL season had 28 group stage matches, before expanding to 32 in the following season.[18]

In previous seasons of the tournament, the group stage matches were divided into eight rounds, with four matches played in each round. Each team played six other teams once during a season, and one team twice. This allowed for both Sydney and Melbourne (which have two teams each) to play 2 derbies within a single season.[19] Each team played eight group stage matches, four at home and four away, before the top four ranked teams progressed to the semi-finals. In the 2017/18 Season, the format changed so that there would be 40 group stage matches with each team playing 10 matches before the semi-finals.[20] The season was held over a similar time-frame thus resulting in more doubleheaders (one game afternoon, one game night) and teams playing more regularly.[21]

From the 2018–19 season, each team played all other teams twice during a season, for a total of 56 regular season matches before the finals series.

The 2023-24 season was shortened, with each team played ten regular season matches, playing three teams twice, and four teams once; for a total of 40 regular season games and 4 finals. This was in response to concerns that the 61 game season was too long.[22]

The final of the tournament is played at the home ground of the highest-ranked team. The only exception to this rule was 2014–15 season when the final was played at a neutral venue (Manuka Oval), due to the 2015 Cricket World Cup.[23]

In the 2018–19 season, the league introduced a 'bat flip' (instead of a coin toss) to decide who would bat/bowl first.[24]

Up to the 2018–19 season the top four teams contested the finals, which consisted of two semi-finals and a final.

The finals structure was changed in the 2019–20 season to include a fifth team, and a "double chance" for the top two teams. The structure was a hybrid version of the Page–McIntyre final four system with the addition of 'The Eliminator' being the difference between the original and hybrid versions.:

The BBL has reverted to a top four for the 2023/24 season, but kept the double chance for the top two teams:

Current teams

The competition features eight city-based franchises, instead of the six state-based teams which had previously competed in the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash. Each state's capital city features one team, with Sydney and Melbourne featuring two. The team names and colours for all teams were officially announced on 6 April 2011.[25] The Melbourne Derby and Sydney Derby matches are some of the most heavily attended matches during the league and are widely anticipated by the fans.[26] The Scorchers and Sixers have also developed a rivalry between them over the years and their matches attract good crowds and TV ratings.[27]

A single city-based franchise can have a maximum of 19 contracted players for a season, with the squad including a minimum of two rookie contracts and a maximum of six overseas players, although only three international players can play in each match from 2020 to 2021 edition. Each team can also have a maximum of two overseas replacement players, in case the original overseas players get injured or withdraw.[28]

TeamLocationHome groundCoachCaptain
Adelaide StrikersAdelaide, South AustraliaAdelaide OvalTBCMatt Short
Brisbane HeatBrisbane, QueenslandBrisbane Cricket GroundJohan BothaUsman Khawaja
Hobart HurricanesHobart, TasmaniaBlundstone ArenaJeff VaughanNathan Ellis
Melbourne RenegadesMelbourne, VictoriaMarvel StadiumCameron WhiteWill Sutherland
Melbourne StarsMelbourne, VictoriaMelbourne Cricket GroundPeter MooresTBC
Perth ScorchersPerth, Western AustraliaPerth StadiumAdam VogesAshton Turner
Sydney SixersSydney, New South WalesSydney Cricket GroundGreg ShipperdMoises Henriques
Sydney ThunderSydney, New South WalesSydney Showground StadiumTrevor BaylissChris Green

Rivalries

Throughout the history of the tournament rivalries have been formed by competition between teams and by teams being in the same city.

Sydney Smash

The Sydney Smash is a game between the Sydney based teams, the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder. This rivalry was started in the inaugural season due to both teams being from Sydney and being made up of New South Wales cricket team players. The Sixers have won 16 times to the Thunder's 7 but the game still attracts a large crowd for every game.

Melbourne Derby

The Melbourne Derby takes place between the two Melbourne based teams, the Melbourne Renegades and the Melbourne Stars. This derby is similar in nature to the Sydney Smash as the cores of both teams come from the Victoria cricket team and has been happening since the inaugural season of the competition. In BBL05 the game drew the largest crowd for a Big Bash game with 80,883 fans attending the game at the MCG.[29]

Perth Scorchers - Sydney Sixers

The Scorchers/Sixers rivalry has developed over the competition's 12 seasons due to their unparalleled success. The Scorchers have won the title five times and Sixers have claimed the trophy three times. The Scorchers and the Sixers have both been runners up three times. They've met in the final on five occasions. The Scorchers have won three of those encounters and the Sixers two.[30]

Tournament season and results

Perth Scorchers have won five titles and Sydney Sixers three.[31] Both of these teams have won the title in consecutive seasons.[32]

The Scorchers have reached the final of the tournament eight times. Out of the eight teams in the tournament, six have won the title at least once. Only two other teams (Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Stars) have reached the final at least twice.[33] The other three teams which have won the title once are the Sydney Thunder in (2015–16),[34] [35] the Adelaide Strikers in (2017–18),[36] and the Melbourne Renegades in (2018–19).[37] [38]

The WACA Ground has hosted the final on four occasions, the most of any venue.

Finals summary
SeasonFinalFinal hostFinal venueCity/TownAttendance
WinnerResultRunner-up
2011–12
Details
Sydney Sixers
3/158 (18.5 overs)
Sixers won by 7 wickets
Scorecard
Perth Scorchers
5/156 (20 overs)
Perth ScorchersWACA GroundPerth16,255
2012–13
Details
Brisbane Heat
5/167 (20 overs)
Heat won by 34 runs
Scorecard
Perth Scorchers
9/133 (20 overs)
Perth ScorchersWACA GroundPerth18,517
2013–14
Details
Perth Scorchers
4/191 (20 overs)
Scorchers won by 39 runs
Scorecard
Hobart Hurricanes
7/152 (20 overs)
Perth ScorchersWACA GroundPerth20,783
2014–15
Details
Perth Scorchers
6/148 (20 overs)
Scorchers won by 4 wickets
Scorecard
Sydney Sixers
5/147 (20 overs)
Neutral venueManuka OvalCanberra11,837
2015–16
Details
Sydney Thunder
7/181 (19.3 overs)
Thunder won by 3 wickets
Scorecard
Melbourne Stars
9/176 (20 overs)
Melbourne StarsMCGMelbourne47,672
2016–17
Details
Perth Scorchers
1/144 (15.5 overs)
Scorchers won by 9 wickets
Scorecard
Sydney Sixers
9/141 (20 overs)
Perth ScorchersWACA GroundPerth21,832
2017–18
Details
Adelaide Strikers
2/202 (20 overs)
Strikers won by 25 runs
Scorecard
Hobart Hurricanes
5/177 (20 overs)
Adelaide StrikersAdelaide OvalAdelaide40,732
2018–19
Details
Melbourne Renegades
5/145 (20 overs)
Renegades won by 13 runs
Scorecard
Melbourne Stars
7/132 (20 overs)
Melbourne RenegadesDocklands StadiumMelbourne40,816
2019–20
Details
Sydney Sixers
5/116 (12 overs)
Sixers won by 19 runs
Scorecard
Melbourne Stars
6/97 (12 overs)
Sydney SixersSCGSydney10,121
2020–21
Details
Sydney Sixers
6/188 (20 overs)
Sixers won by 27 runs
Scorecard
Perth Scorchers
9/161 (20 overs)
Sydney SixersSCGSydney25,295
2021–22
Details
Perth Scorchers
6/171 (20 overs)
Scorchers won by 79 runs
Scorecard
Sydney Sixers
10/92 (16.2 overs)
Neutral venueDocklands StadiumMelbourne10,333
2022–23
Details
Perth Scorchers
5/178 (19.2 overs)
Scorchers won by 5 wickets
Scorecard
Brisbane Heat
7/175 (20 overs)
Perth ScorchersPerth StadiumPerth53,886
2023–24
Details
Brisbane Heat
8/166 (20 overs)
Heat won by 54 runs
Scorecard
Sydney Sixers
112 (17.3 overs)
Sydney SixersSCGSydney43,153

Team summary by season

Team2011–122012–132013–142014–152015–162016–172017–182018–192019–202020–212021–222022–232023-24
Adelaide Strikers6th5th7thSF (1st)SF (1st)6th7thKO (3rd)EF (5th)CF (4th)7thCF (4th)
Brisbane Heat5th5th8th6thSF (2nd)7th5th7thCF (4th)7thRU (5th)
Hobart HurricanesSF (2nd)6thRU (4th)5th7th7thRU (4th)SF (1st)EF (4th)6thEF (5th)6th5th
Melbourne Renegades7thSF (1st)6th6th5th5thSF (3rd)8th8th8thKO (3rd)7th
Melbourne StarsSF (4th)SF (3rd)SF (1st)SF (3rd)RU (2nd)SF (4th)8thRU (4th)RU (1st)7th6th8th6th
Perth ScorchersRU (1st)RU (2nd)SF (3rd)SF (1st)8th6thRU (2nd)KO (3rd)
Sydney Sixers7thSF (2nd)RU (4th)8thRU (3rd)5thSF (3rd)RU (2nd)CF (2nd)RU (2nd)
Sydney Thunder8th8th8th7th8th6th6thCF (5th)KO (3rd)KO (3rd)EF (4th)8th

Notes:

Champions

TeamTotalChampion Seasons(s)
Perth Scorchers52013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2021–22, 2022–23
Sydney Sixers32011–12, 2019–20, 2020–21
Brisbane Heat22012–13, 2023–24
Melbourne Renegades12018–19
Adelaide Strikers12017–18
Sydney Thunder12015–16
Melbourne Stars0
Hobart Hurricanes0

Wooden Spoons

The wooden spoon in Big Bash League is an imaginary and ironic "award" which is said to be won by the team finishing in last place in the Big Bash League.[39] [40]

Summary

TeamTotalWooden Spoon Season(s)
Sydney Thunder52011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2016–17, 2023–24
Melbourne Renegades32019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22
Melbourne Stars22017–18, 2022–23
Brisbane Heat12014–15
Sydney Sixers12015–16
Perth Scorchers12018–19
Adelaide Strikers0
Hobart Hurricanes0

Season records

SeasonWooden SpoonPldWLNRBPPtsNRR
2011–12Sydney Thunder72504−1.250
2012–13Sydney Thunder80800−1.360
2013–14Sydney Thunder81702−0.654
2014–15Brisbane Heat82604−1.116
2015–16Sydney Sixers82604−0.330
2016–17Sydney Thunder83506−0.600
2017–18Melbourne Stars102804−0.926
2018–19Perth Scorchers1441008−0.502
2019–20Melbourne Renegades1431106−0.348
2020–21Melbourne Renegades144100416−1.727
2021–22Melbourne Renegades143101516−1.477
2022–23Melbourne Stars1431006−0.287
2023–24Sydney Thunder101724−0.652

Salary cap

The salary cap was initially $1 million, and increased to $1.05 million for the third season.[41] In February 2015, the salary cap increased to $1.3 million for the fifth season,[28] and to $1.6 million for the sixth season.[42]

In 2023-24 the cap was at $3 million AUD, with the ability to also have 2 players paid outside the cap.[43]

Prize money

Cricket Australia increased the prize money for the BBL to a total of $890,000 for the four finalists from 2015–16 season, after the Champions League Twenty20 tournament was discontinued with effect from 2015. The prize money will be split between the teams as follows:[44]

However, the additional cash increase of $600,000 will go to successful clubs and not their players. Up to the 2014–15 BBL season, a total prize money of $290,000 was awarded.

Audience

Attendance

Average home crowds for the season are listed below. These figures include finals matches. The figures for the whole season average include the finals.[45] [46] Post-Christmas matches have historically been the highest attended period for the League.[47] BBL has provided a platform to create interest in playing cricket among younger children, due to its big hitting, high scoring and entertaining nature of the game.[48]

The 2014–15 season saw record domestic cricket crowds in the states of South Australia, New South Wales, Tasmania and the ACT, including a record attendance of 52,633 at the Adelaide Strikers' home semi-final, which was then the biggest ever crowd at the redeveloped Adelaide Oval.

In the 2015–16 season, attendance figure records continued to be broken across all the venues. Perth Scorchers became the first ever BBL team to sell out all of its home matches in a season.[49] On 2 January 2016, the BBL single match attendance record was surpassed, with a crowd of 80,883 watching the first of two Melbourne derbies between the Melbourne Stars and the Melbourne Renegades at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Big Bash League also entered the top 10 most attended sports leagues in the world with respect to average crowd per match in this season.[50]

TeamHome crowd average
2011–122012–132013–142014–152015–162016–172017–182018–192019–202020–21^2021–22^2022–232023–24 *Average
Adelaide Strikers21,95013,31923,70439,29543,68941,34235,24728,09525,14310,6935,93121,10528,61626,010
Brisbane Heat17,07215,89723,70824,70129,35334,37532,98022,34323,16712,6938,75116,69925,765*22,116
Hobart Hurricanes11,25112,1079,55213,77616,64017,57013,53611,3488,2995,1464,2187,0687,98210,653
Melbourne Renegades13,32413,80421,92922,30129,01030,03328,31521,70315,5287,8147,36111,80918,25118,552
Melbourne Stars27,42421,42619,95127,69840,29849,57831,62821,54121,4479,3009,67816,32020,81024,392
Perth Scorchers15,23913,76218,06118,91820,27320,67926,72530,13326,58616,95216,108**31,16735,658*22,371
Sydney Sixers20,09213,28618,44623,84227,95630,36824,81517,79816,9953,01710,47016,96919,825*18,760
Sydney Thunder18,42310,27814,86617,93819,33320,68815,43212,46110,8884,1777,34510,11112,281*13,402
Finals15,22217,56815,28627,88842,18225,64243,33422,85412,69125,2955,63225,72623,329
Season average17,74914,19618,78123,53829,44330,12226,52820,55418,5208,992^7,371^16,72021,04519,477
^COVID-19 affected season

*Season still in progress

**Played one home game

Television

Australian television

BBL games are currently broadcast in Australia on free-to-air television by the Seven Network and subscription television by Fox Cricket. The Seven Network broadcasts 45 of 61 Matches including the Finals Series. Fox Cricket televises all 61 Matches including 16 Matches exclusively in 4K.[51]

The rights were previously held by Network 10, who in 2013 paid $100 million for BBL rights over five years, marking the channel's first foray in elite cricket coverage.[52]

Network 10's BBL coverage became a regular feature of Australian summers and attracted an average audience of more than 943,000 people nationally in 2014–15 season, including a peak audience of 1.9 million viewers for the final between the Scorchers and Sixers.[53]

The 2015–16 season attracted an average audience of 1.13 million for each match in Australia this season, an 18% increase over the previous season. A cumulative audience of 9.65 million watched the matches in Australia, out of which 39% were women.[54] [55] The opening Sydney Derby match of the season attracted a peak audience of 1.53 million.[56] The last group match between Renegades and Strikers in Season 2 was watched by an average audience of 1.36 million, which peaked at 1.67 million.[57] The BBL Final was watched by an average audience of 1.79 million, which peaked at 2.24 million viewers. This was the first time that the ratings for a BBL match crossed the 2 million mark.[58] The KFC BBL|10 Final reached 2.5 million viewers on Seven and 669,000 on Foxtel, capping an extraordinary season in which as players, officials, staff and broadcast partners successfully navigated through the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.[59]

Grounds

See also: List of Big Bash League venues. A total of 17 grounds have been used to host BBL matches to date. Sydney Thunder moved out of ANZ Stadium after the 2014–15 season and relocated to Sydney Showground Stadium for the next 10 years. From 2020, the tournament Final has been played at the home ground of the team that wins 'The Qualifier', a playoff match contested between the 2 teams finishing 1st and 2nd in the League. The WACA Ground has hosted the final 4 times, more times than any other venue. Manuka Oval hosted the final of 2014–15 BBL season as a neutral venue primarily because other major grounds were being prepared for the 2015 Cricket World Cup.[60]

Optus Stadium replaced the WACA Ground as the home ground of Perth Scorchers starting with the 2017–18 BBL semi-finals. Perth's home match against Hobart Hurricanes (and a doubleheader WBBL match featuring the Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder) became only the second public event at the new stadium.

In September 2017, the Adelaide Strikers agreed to play one home BBL and WBBL match at Traeger Park in Alice Springs over the course of the 2017–18 season. In 2018, they announced that one BBL and two WBBL matches would be held at Traeger Park for the 2018–19 and 2019–20 seasons.

Since 2017–18, the Melbourne Renegades have played two matches per season at Kardinia Park in Geelong, Victoria and the Hobart Hurricanes play multiple games at UTAS Stadium in Launceston, Tasmania.

StadiumCapacityCityHome team
Current Grounds
53,583
19,500
53,359
60,000
The Gabba42,000
100,024
22,000
48,000
Secondary Grounds
21,000Hobart Hurricanes
26,000Melbourne Renegades
10,000 Hobart Hurricanes
12,000 Sydney Thunder
25,000 Brisbane Heat
Melbourne Stars
Ted Summerton Reserve7,500 Melbourne Stars
20,000 Sydney Sixers
Cazalys Stadium13,500CairnsBrisbane Heat
Citi Power Centre7,000MelbourneMelbourne Stars
Former Grounds
82,000 Sydney Thunder (2011–2014)
20,000 Perth Scorchers (2011–2018)

Records and statistics

See main article: List of Big Bash League records and statistics. Here is a list of Big Bash League records. All records are based on statistics at espncricinfo.com.[61] Former Brisbane Heat player and captain Chris Lynn currently holds the record of scoring most runs in the league.[62] The record of taking most wickets in the league belongs to Sean Abbott who currently plays for the Sydney Sixers. He has represented the Sydney Thunder in the past.

Batting Records
Most runs Chris Lynn3,725
Highest average Laurie Evans42.78
Highest score Glenn Maxwell154* vs Hobart Hurricanes (19 January 2022)
Highest partnership Marcus Stoinis & Hilton Cartwright207 vs Sydney Sixers (12 January 2020)
Most sixes Chris Lynn208
Bowling Records
Most wickets Sean Abbott161
Lowest average Adil Rashid14.12
Paul Walter10.50
Lasith Malinga5.40
Best bowling figures Lasith Malinga6/7 vs Perth Scorchers (12 December 2012)
Best bowling figures by a debutant Daniel Sams4/14 vs Sydney Thunder (19 December 2017)
Fielding
Most dismissals (wicket-keeper) Josh Phillippe80
Most catches (fielder) Jordan Silk76
Team Records
Highest total273–2 (20) vs Hobart Hurricanes (19 January 2022)
Lowest total Sydney Thunder15 (5.5) vs Adelaide Strikers (16 December 2022)

Last updated on 12 January 2024

*Batting: At least 10 innings must be played

*Bowling: At least 100 balls must be bowled

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Champions League T20 discontinued. 15 July 2015. ESPN. 15 July 2015.
  2. Web site: KFC T20 Big Bash League – Top three trophies as chosen by you . Bigbash.com.au . 18 December 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120608224315/http://www.bigbash.com.au/news-and-videos/article/2011-09/top-three-trophies-as-chosen-by-you . 8 June 2012 . dead .
  3. Web site: KFC T20 Big Bash League – The trophy has been revealed . Bigbash.com.au .
  4. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/cricket/cricket-australia-considering-big-bash-expansion/story-fn6w5lwh-1226242051179 Cricket Australia considering Big Bash expansion
  5. http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/domestic-cricket/cricket-australia-looking-at-expanding-the-kfc-t20-big-bash-league-on-back-of-incredible-ratings-and-crowd-figures/story-fn5k3es5-1226242268221 Cricket Australia looks at expanding KFC T20 Big Bash League on back of incredible ratings and crowd figures
  6. Web site: Articles from January 27, 2012 . Sports News First . 27 January 2012 . 2 February 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131231001806/http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au/articles/2012/01/27/big-bash-will-not-expand-next-year . 31 December 2013 . dead .
  7. Web site: Kerry . Craig . Newcastle lacking for big bash . Newcastle Herald . 12 January 2012 . 2 February 2012 . 11 February 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120211084855/http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/newcastle-lacking-for-big-bash/2418587.aspx . live .
  8. http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/expand-the-big-bash-league-to-new-zealand-stephen-fleming-says-20151204-glfjs7.html Expand the Big Bash League to New Zealand, says Stephen Fleming
  9. http://www.bigbash.com.au/news/new-zealand-big-bash-league-team-mike-mckenna-daniel-vettori/2015-12-25 New Zealand Could Field BBL Team: Vettori
  10. http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/cricket/big-bash-melbourne-renegades-boss-wants-more-games-next-season/news-story/6028af53f9ba88b7d40f55af9fc388b2 Big Bash: Melbourne Renegades boss wants more games next season
  11. Web site: Big Bash League adds eight matches, as expansion plans for BBL 07 are revealed. 26 January 2017. The Age.
  12. News: The Gold Coast Suns want their own Big Bash League franchise when the competition expands . Hamilton, Andrew . The Courier Mail . 30 April 2018 . 3 February 2019 .
  13. News: Possibility of Women's Big Bash League. Ninemsn. 19 January 2014. 23 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140201192919/http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8786049. 1 February 2014. dead.
  14. News: Eight teams announced for Women's BBL. cricket.com.au. 19 February 2015.
  15. http://www.bigbash.com.au/news/big-bash-league-to-investigate-possiblity-of-christmas-day-match/2015-12-21 Big Bash Looks to Christmas Clash
  16. Web site: Cricket Australia, Christmas Day BBL, Big Bash League: CA 'reaches agreement with players' Fox Sports. Fox Sports. Australia. 27 September 2018. en-AU. 2018-12-02.
  17. Web site: Players agree to Christmas Day Big Bash: report. 2018-09-27. The Sydney Morning Herald. en. 2018-12-02.
  18. http://www.bigbash.com.au/news/big-bash-may-head-to-regional-areas-cricket-australia-geelong-canberra-gold-coast/2016-01-03 Big Bash May Head to Regional Areas
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  21. Web site: Upcoming Matches . bigbash.com.au . 7 January 2019.
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  23. http://www.cricketmad.com/category/cricket-latest-news/big-bash-league-2015-16-schedule-20151202-0003/ "Big Bash League 2015–16 schedule – Tournament kick-starts on December 17"
  24. Web site: No more coin toss in BBL shake-up . Cricket.com.au . 11 December 2018 . 3 February 2019.
  25. http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/story/509663.html New look and feel for freshly formed Big Bash teams
  26. http://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/bbl-big-derbies-to-feature-as-big-bash-league-draw-released/news-story/0ad028fc0197687ea1d658c2fdc68b7d Big Bash League: double-headers, derbies, big egos all on show in 2015–16 version of BBL
  27. http://www.sportsbanter.com.au/bbl04-round-3-preview-sydney-sixers-v-perth-scorchers/ Sydney Sixers v Perth Scorchers
  28. http://cricketbadger.com/2015/02/bbl05-contracting-for-the-next-big-bash-league-begins/ BBL|05: Contracting for the next Big Bash League begins
  29. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cricket/big-bash-league-huge-mcg-crowd-of-80883-stuns-ricky-ponting/news-story/3af9463a65b995fcf717f86158aefac8 Numbers that refuse to lie
  30. Web site: The biggest rivalry in the Big Bash League ready to write a new chapter . 15 January 2023 .
  31. Web site: Consecutive titles for Pert Scorchers. 6 February 2021.
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  41. http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/big-bash-tweaks-player-rules-20130612-2o3am.html Big Bash tweaks player rules
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  43. Web site: CA allows BBL clubs to sign players outside their salary cap .
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  49. http://www.perthscorchers.com.au/news/scorchers-set-league-sellout-record/2015-12-31 Scorchers Set League Sell-Out Record
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  51. News: End of an era confirmed: Foxtel and Seven snatch cricket rights from Nine. The Roar. Scott. Bailey. 13 April 2018. 13 April 2018.
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  53. http://www.cricket.com.au/news/bbl05-big-bash-league-fixture-release-2015-16-final-host-highest-qualifying-team-all-matches-live/2015-07-12 Big Bash League schedule released
  54. http://www.bigbash.com.au/news/kfc-big-bash-league-reaches-new-heights-in-bbl05-wbbl01-womens-big-bash/~/media/4AA18022BED84381B18846753425BC84.ashx Season Wrap – BBL|05
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    1. SydneySmash breaks ratings record
  57. https://twitter.com/malcolmconn/status/689335385575403520 Session 2: 1.36 mil Peak 1.67 mil Audience up 41% on 2014–15 Session 2 ave #BBL05
  58. https://twitter.com/malcolmconn/status/691391474928209920 SBIG ratings for BIG #BBL05 #BBLFinal! 1.79 mil watched @ThunderBBL win their first title. Peak 2.24 mil Audience up 17% 2015 final session 2
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