Published: Jun 07, 2016, 01:59 PM (IST)
Edited: Jun 07, 2016, 02:45 PM (IST)
Big Bash League (BBL) news have been making rounds and this time they have announced the schedule for next season of BBL. It includes 35 matches in 40 days and the biggest match to look forward will be between Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades that is set to take place on New Year’s eve. Last year, Melbourne derby at MCG attracted a record crowd of 80,883 and the match tjis time could go much above this record on January 1. Although, there are no BBL matches held during Christmas. The season will begin with defending champions Sydney Thunder against Sydney Sixers at Spotless Stadium on December 20 and the final will be held on January 28, 2017. ALSO READ: Langer eager to sign Brathwaite for Perth Scorchers
The current traditional New Year’s eve match will be held at Adelaide with Strikers hosting Sixers whiel Melbourne Derbies will be played across the first two weekends. The Stars and Thunder will meet in a replay of last year’s final at Spotless Stadium on Wednesday January 4. This schedule also includes four double-headers and this time’s Boxing Day action will take place at Blundstone Arena instead of WACA. As for the WBBL, there will be 14 double-headers including the blockbuster New Year match at Adelaide and Melbourne respectively.
Cricket Australia (CA)’s Executive General Manager Mike McKenna spoke to cricket.com.au, “We operate on a ‘one club, two teams’ mentality with the men’s and women’s Big Bash Leagues to give fans greater options with this integrated schedule. The KFC Big Bash League has become a family favourite during the summer school holidays and the way the public embraced the Women’s Big Bash League last year shows there is strong demand that this schedule is designed to grow. There will be 14 double-headers for the BBL and WBBL to stand side-by-side, while still giving the two leagues spotlight to shine equally on their own stage. Every BBL match will again be broadcast after averaging more than a million viewers every match last season, complementing the additional one million people who came through the gates in BBL|05.” ALSO READ: Mustafizur Rahman draws attention from Big Bash League franchises
He further added, “We are spending the off-season looking at more innovative ways to build on the league’s strengths and enhancing our fans’ experiences in the fun, fast-paced atmosphere of every match. As part of our commitment to value for families, entry-level ticket prices will remain unchanged for the sixth straight season.” BBL has soared as compared to the viewership on Ntework Ten in comparison to Australian Football League and National Rugby League on free-to-air television respectively.
| DATE | DAY | MATCH |
| 20.12.16 | Tuesday | Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers |
| 21.2.16 | Wednesday | Adelaide Strikers vs Brisbane Heat |
| 22.12.16 | Thursday | Melbourne Renegades vs Syney Thunder |
| 23.12.16 | Friday | Sydney Sixers vs Hobart Hurricanes |
| 23.12.16 | Friday | Perth Scorchers vs Adelaide Strikers |
| 26.12.16 | Monday | Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Stars |
| 27.12.16 | Tuesday | Sydney Sixers vs Perth Scorchers |
| 28.12.16 | Wednesday | Sydney Thunder vs Brisbane Heat |
| 29.12.16 | Thursday | Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers |
| 30.12.16 | Friday | Brisbane Heat vs Hobart Hurricanes |
| 31.12.16 | Saturday | Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Sixers |
| 1.1.17 | Sunday | Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades |
| 1.1.17 | Sunday | Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Thunder |
| 2.1.17 | Monday | Hobart Hurricanes vs Adelaide Strikers |
| 3.1.17 | Tuesday | Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixers |
| 4.1.17 | Wednesday | Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Stars |
| 5.1.17 | Thursday | Perth Scorchers vs Brisbane Heat |
| 6.1.17 | Friday | Adelaide Strikers vs Hobart Hurricanes |
| 7.1.17 | Saturday | Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars |
| 8.1.17 | Sunday | Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder |
| 9.1.17 | Monday | Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Renegades |
| 10.1.17 | Tuesday | Melbourne Stars vs Adelaide Strikers |
| 11.1.17 | Wednesday | Brisbane Heat vs Perth Scorchers |
| 12.1.17 | Thursday | Melbourne Renegades vs Hobart Hurricanes |
| 14.1.17 | Saturday | Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunder |
| 14.1.17 | Saturday | Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Stars |
| 16.1.17 | Monday | Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Renegades |
| 17.1.17 | Tuesday | Melbourne Stars vs Brisbane Heat |
| 18.1.17 | Wednesday | Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers |
| 20.1.17 | Friday | Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Renegades |
| 21.1.17 | Saturday | Hobart Hurricanes vs Perth Scorchers |
| 21.1.17 | Saturday | Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Sixers |
| 24.1.17 | Tuesday | Semi-final 1 |
| 25.1.17 | Wednesday | Semi-final 2 |
| 28.1.17 | Saturday | Final |
Network Ten Chief Executive Officer Paul Anderson said, “We are delighted to be broadcasting 47 games of KFC Big Bash League and Women’s Big Bash League over the upcoming summer, live and exclusive.” Entry level ticket prices remain unchanged for the sixth straight season, with general public tickets to go on sale on Thursday, October 6.
