BBL15 fixture: Search who every club plays and when, league weighs up rule changes

The Big Bash League is weighing up rule changes which reportedly include a double play run-out. Have your say and see the full fixture for BBL15 here.

The BBL is investigating rule changes as it looks to accelerate matches and enhance fan experience — both at venues and on television.

It was reported earlier this year rules including a double play run-out, designated hitter and rewards for maiden overs were being considered.

BBL boss Alistair Dobson said the league was “always looking to innovate”.

“I wouldn’t comment too much on specifics other than to say that process hasn’t finished yet,” Dobson said.

“We move into the finishing touches of the season now that the schedule is done. We’re putting the finishing touches on a couple of things that we’ll take through the right process over the coming weeks and months.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE EVERY BBL15 FIXTURE AND SEARCH BY CLUB

“If those get through and we see the value in those, I guess stay tuned on that front.”

The Indian Premier League has an impact player rule which allows teams to substitute a player who then becomes part of the XI.

The BBL previously had an ‘X-Factor player’ and ‘Bash Boost point’ which were scrapped after two seasons.

Dobson said any changes would prioritise “interest”, “strategy” and “engagement of our fans”.

“The process goes for months if not years around finding an idea and assessing it,” he said.

“Ultimately for us we look at making sure, ‘what’s the problem or the opportunity we’re trying to solve?’

“Generally for the BBL it’s about higher scores, closer games and often interesting strategy. How can we build in things to our game and give commentators something interesting to focus on, fans something to connect with and ultimately makes the cricket more interesting and exciting.”

Stars skipper Marcus Stoinis celebrates a wicket last summer.

BBL general manager Alistair Dobson.

Dobson said many of the ideas floated would be left on the cutting room floor and fans could be confident those which were adopted would improve the competition.

“When we come out the other side, we think we generally land with a good idea,” he said.

“The notion of just making change for change’s sake is always something that we’re very mindful of and we have plenty of people within our system that remind us of that on a regular basis.

“Wherever we land this year will be well thought through and based on data and consultation and ultimately better cricket.”

BBL15 will start on Sunday, December 14 when Perth Scorchers host Sydney Sixers.

The final is scheduled for Sunday, January 25.

Australia’s Test stars are expected to be available for the last three games of the regular season and finals after the Ashes.

BIG DERBY SHIFT PUTS RECORD MELBOURNE CROWDS BACK ON AGENDA

The biggest fixture on the BBL calendar will return to an earlier timeslot this summer as Melbourne Stars target one of the biggest derby crowds in the tournament’s history.

This summer’s MCG clash between the Stars and Renegades will start at 6.05pm on Sunday, January 4, more than an hour earlier than last year’s fixture between the Melbourne rivals.

The move is one of the highlights of the BBL15 fixture, which will be released on Thursday.

It is more than nine years since a record crowd of 80,883 spectators flocked to the MCG to watch Englishman Luke Wright lead the Stars to a derby victory with an unbeaten century.

That match started at 6.10pm.

A year later, 71,162 fans turned out to a Stars-Renegades blockbuster which also started in the earlier timeslot.

“There’s always a delicate balance between the ideal broadcast time and then what makes it easiest for families to attend,” Stars general manager Max Abbott said.

“There seems to be some historical data to suggest, and anecdotal from fans, that some BBL games can finish (too late) for young families.

There were few empty seats during the MCG derby in 2016.

“It’s great to have the derby match in that 6.05pm timeslot that helps us make it as accessible as possible for fans and families wanting to attend and still balances against the broadcast audience which is always significant for that match as well.”

Last year’s MCG crowd of 40,636 was the biggest attendance since BBL09 for the fixture.

The Melbourne derby averaged crowds of more than 50,000 in the first nine seasons but has dropped to 28,553 in the past five summers (some of which were Covid affected).

Luke Wright celebrates his century in the BBL05 Melbourne derby.

The return fixture at Marvel Stadium this summer will be on Saturday, January 10.

Abbott said the Stars had forecast a crowd of 55,000-60,000 for the BBL15 MCG derby.

“I think we saw some great growth in the crowds coming back to Melbourne in the Big Bash last year after Covid hit the city pretty hard in terms of attendances,” he s aid.

“We think we’re well placed this year to really start heading back towards those sort of numbers that we were getting in BBL05, 06 and 07.”

The 15th Big Bash season will start on Sunday, December 14 when Perth Scorchers host Sydney Sixers.

Originally published as BBL15 fixture: Search who every club plays and when, league weighs up rule changes