Cricket Australia working towards a a BBL Christmas Day blockbuster

CRICKET Australia has established a working party designed to fast-track plans for a historic Christmas Day T20 blockbuster. VOTE: Would you attend a Big Bash game on Christmas Day?

Dwayne Bravo celebrates bringing up a half-century for the Renegades.

CRICKET Australia has established “Project Jingle Bash” - a working party designed to fast-track plans for a historic Christmas Day Twenty20 blockbuster.

The governing body says it is ready to discuss its findings with the players’ union, fans and venues after gathering momentum for a Big Bash League fixture.

But it will not be at the MCG with the Melbourne Stars’ home ground unavailable for BBL games in December due to the Boxing Day Test.

Melbourne Renegades yesterday said they would formalise a position on playing Christmas Day once CA’s plans were clearer.

A twilight or night slot would be favoured. Supporters will be canvassed on their views this summer.

BBL boss Anthony Everard said Christmas Day offered franchises the chance to quickly own a piece of the summer calendar and the league was “open minded” on which city would work best.

“It’s found a little bit of momentum,” Everard told the Herald Sun.

“It’s pretty exciting actually. The more we look into it, it could be a fantastic day.

“But it’s got to be more than just scheduling another game and expecting to roll that out as per any other BBL game.

“It doesn’t take long for an event to establish itself on the calendar.”

‘Project Jingle Bash’ — comprised of CA marketing, scheduling and strategy experts — contacted the NBA this year for key lessons on its Christmas Day success.

The NBA stages five marquee Christmas games which will this month include the Los Angeles derby and a playoff rematch between Golden State and Cleveland.

Everard said a clash next summer was “unlikely” — but not out of the question. The BBL07 schedule will be mapped out between February and April.

In BBL03 Adelaide Strikers put their hand up for an annual New Year’s Eve blockbuster, which has become a summer highlight.

The Stars’ first home game will be the January 1 MCG derby against the Renegades — a fixture which attracted a domestic record 80,883 last summer.

Everard stressed a Christmas Day game must have a different feel to regular fixtures and would be tied in with a charity, possibly with fans donating gifts to underprivileged children.

Dwayne Bravo celebrates bringing up a half-century for the Renegades.

Champion Sydney Thunder has previously expressed an interest in hosting, but no club has formally asked CA for a Christmas fixture.

BBL clubs have long been forced to travel on Christmas Day.

This year both Melbourne teams will depart with the Stars’ men’s team off to Hobart and the Renegades’ women’s team off to Sydney for Boxing Day games.

The AFL will break with tradition next season and stage a twilight Good Friday encounter between North Melbourne and Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.