BBL schedule revealed, when will Australia’s biggest stars light up the competition this summer

Slight adjustments to the men’s Big Bash League schedule is set to open a larger window for Australia’s best players to feature for their BBL clubs this summer.

Australia’s contracted men’s players are set to be available for an entire three-week stretch of BBL14, that includes finals, with the competition’s fixtures announced on Friday morning.

Following the successful move to a 44-game season including finals last year, Cricket Australia has opted to move the starting date of the competition back a week. Not only will this allow for better availability for Australian Test players who finish their Test series against India on January 7, but it also means more prime time games in school holiday timeslots.

There’s genuine hope that the likes of Pat Cummins and Mitch Starc will be seen in bright colours this summer as Cricket Australia pushes for its premier domestic competition to become a priority for its biggest stars.

The Scorchers will host the Stars in Perth to kick off BBL14 on Sunday, December 15. For the next month, except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day there will be a Big Bash game every night.

That includes a Boxing Day double header in Sydney and Perth, as well as a New Year’s Day double header in Hobart and Brisbane. Most Saturdays will also feature back-to-back matches.

The finals series will begin on Tuesday, January 21 with The Qualifier. This year’s final will be played on Monday, January 27 which is the Australia Day public holiday. That date also provides the match with separation from the Australian Open men’s tennis final.

Pat Cummins last played for the Thunder in early 2019. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Crowd numbers indicate that the mid-December to mid-January window for matches has always been the most popular with fans. And this year’s schedule is set to provide cricket lovers with the consistency that when they turn on their televisions each night, they will see a Big Bash match.

“It’s the rhythm and the shape of our season this year that’s got us most excited,” Alistair Dobson, general manager of the Big Bash Leagues said.

“Last year we saw the benefits of a shorter season albeit a little disrupted by the Perth Test. But this year it is wall-to-wall cricket and uninterrupted. To have all those factors go our way, it feels like we’re going to be able to continue the momentum we’ve had.

“We know families love to be part of it. Whether it’s a day watching a Test match, followed by a Big Bash game, or a day at the cricket all around the country, that’s what it’s all about.”

Dobson believes this season’s schedule provides more consistency. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images for Cricket Australia

The tournament had the potential to be pushed back to allow for more flexibility with Australian players involved in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, that would have then eaten into the dates for Australia’s two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in February.

Player availability in January will be an issue that continues to rear head with the ILT20 and SA20 tournament creeping closer to the start of the month.

This year’s competition in the UAE is set to begin on January 11 which means any players involved would miss approximately a third of BBL14. The SA20 competition is also set to commence from January 9.

Cricket Australia is backing themselves to own the December-January space. New contracting mechanisms also allow clubs to secure international players exclusively on long-term deals. For example, England wicketkeeper Sam Billings has signed a three-year deal with the Sydney Thunder which means he will be available for the entire BBL each year, including finals.

Every game of the tournament will be available to watch live on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports. The three Super Saturday double headers are exclusive to Fox Cricket and Kayo.

Originally published as BBL schedule revealed, when will Australia’s biggest stars light up the competition this summer