Big Bash League poised for broadcast battle with the Australian Open
The Big Bash League’s 2021/22 finals series and the second week of the Australian Open are poised for a free-to-air broadcast battle next summer.
Cricket Australia unveiled the BBL11 schedule earlier this week, with the T20 tournament concluding during the school holidays for the first time since 2017.
Although the adjustment will encourage higher attendance for the final series, it creates a direct clash with Melbourne’s grand slam tournament.
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The Big Bash grand final will go head-to-head with the Australian Open men’s singles semi-final on Friday, January 28.
“The BBL has always shared the summer with the Australian Open,” Head of Big Bash Leagues Alastair Dobson told news.com.au.
“It’s a great time to be in Melbourne when there are Big Bash finals and the Australian Open happening.
“We’re really confident that the strength of the BBL finals has continued to grow in recent years. We had a record year last year in terms of people tuning in to watch the end of the season, and we’re really excited about how that finals schedule is shaping up.”
The Big Bash gets underway on December 5th.Source:Getty Images
Australia’s short-format superstars – including Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa – should be available for the entire Big Bash, with a one-day series against New Zealand commencing three days after the finale.
But by scrapping 11am matches and condensing the T20 tournament from 58 to 54 days, some minor sacrifices were inevitable.
Seven BBL fixtures will overlap with the highly-anticipated Ashes series, meaning Channel 7 and Foxtel will broadcast those games on secondary channels.
The Gabba will host two Brisbane Heat matches that will conclude at approximately midnight AEST, with games against the Melbourne Stars and Hobart Hurricanes starting at 9.05pm and 8.30pm respectively.
And the Stars will play a BBL match at Melbourne’s Junction Oval for the first time, with the 7000-person capacity venue scheduled to host a historic fixture on Sunday, January 2.
“The MCG’s unavailable for a period of the season due to preparations for the Boxing Day Test, so each requires us to be creative around where we can take one or two Melbourne Stars games,” Dobson said.
“They were really excited about the prospect of playing a game at the Junction Oval for their passionate members to get along and have a great day, and they’ve got some really exciting plans around how they’re going to bring that to life.”
Glenn Maxwell will hopefully be available for the entire tournament.Source:Getty Images
The Big Bash Draft has been postponed until the 2022/23 season, while the controversial X-Factor and Bash Boost rules are still under review.
Last summer, several of the competition’s international talent opted out of the T20 tournament due to Australia’s strict travel restrictions, but fan favourites Rashid Khan and Tom Banton will hopefully be available for the Big Bash League’s entirety.
“Each year, a priority for us is to try and look for ways to optimise the overseas talent coming into the BBL,” Dobson said.
“Historically we haven’t had access to Indian players, but whatever we can do to make sure the best players can play in the BBL is always front of mind for us, so it’s a discussion we’ll keep having.”
Next October, a cluster of the world’s most talented short-format cricketers will travel Down Under for the T20 World Cup, and Dobson is hopeful some of the players will be eager to remain in Australia for the Big Bash.
“Hopefully, we would be optimistic by then that international travel was a bit more seamless, and players can come into the country a little more freely.
“The opportunity to capitalise at the back of the World Cup’s going to be huge for Australian cricket, not just for players, but also the momentum and interest in the game.
“We work really closely with the organisers of the World Cup, and are already talking to them about how the Big Bash can leverage what’s going to be such a huge event.”
The controversial X-Factor and Bash Boost rules are still under review.Source:Getty Images
Full Fixture for BBL11
Sunday, December 05, 2021 – Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Stars, SCG, 7:15pm
Monday, December 06, 2021 – Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat, Manuka Oval, 7:15pm
Tuesday, December 07, 2021 Melbourne Renegades v Adelaide Strikers, Marvel Stadium 7:15pm
Wednesday, December 08, 2021 – Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Sixers, University of Tasmania Stadium, 6:35pm
Wednesday, December 08, 2021 – Perth Scorchers v Brisbane Heat, Optus Stadium, 6:35pm
Thursday, December 09, 2021 – Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Renegades, Adelaide Oval, 6:45pm
Friday, December 10, 2021 – Melbourne Stars v Sydney Thunder, MCG, 7:15pm
Saturday, December 11, 2021 – Sydney Sixers v Hobart Hurricanes, SCG, 6:35pm
Saturday, December 11, 2021 – Perth Scorchers v Adelaide Strikers, Optus Stadium, 6:30pm
Sunday, December 12, 2021 – Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Stars, Sydney Showground Stadium, 7:15pm
Monday, December 13, 2021 – Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Renegades, Metricon Stadium, 6:15pm
Tuesday, December 14, 2021 – Hobart Hurricanes v Perth Scorchers, Blundstone Arena, 7:15pm
Wednesday, December 15, 2021 – Melbourne Stars v Sydney Sixers, MCG, 7:15pm
Sunday, December 19, 2021 – Brisbane Heat v Sydney Thunder, Gabba, 6:40pm
Monday, December 20, 2021 – Perth Scorchers v Hobart Hurricanes, Optus Stadium, 4:15pm
Tuesday, December 21, 2021 – Sydney Sixers v Adelaide Strikers, SCG, 7:15pm
Wednesday, December 22, 2021 – Melbourne Renegades v Perth Scorchers, Marvel Stadium, 7:15pm
Thursday, December 23, 2021 – Adelaide Strikers v Brisbane Heat, Adelaide Oval, 6:45pm
Friday, December 24, 2021 – Hobart Hurricanes v Melbourne Stars, Blundstone Arena, Blundstone Arena 3:30pm
Sunday, December 26, 2021 – Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers, Sydney Showground Stadium, 6:05pm
Sunday, December 26, 2021 – Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Renegades, Optus Stadium, 6:15pm
Monday, December 27, 2021 – Hobart Hurricanes v Adelaide Strikers, Blundstone Arena, 6:05pm
Monday, December 27, 2021 – Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Stars, Gabba, 8:05pm
Tuesday, December 28, 2021 – Sydney Thunder v Perth Scorchers, Manuka Oval, 7:15pm
Wednesday, December 29, 2021 – Sydney Sixers v Brisbane Heat, SCG, 6:05pm
Wednesday, December 29, 2021 – Melbourne Renegades v Hobart Hurricanes, Marvel Stadium, 7:15pm
Thursday, December 30, 2021 – Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Stars, Optus Stadium, 4:15pm
Friday, December 31, 2021 – Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Thunder, Adelaide Oval, 6:45pm
Saturday, January 01, 2022 – Hobart Hurricanes v Brisbane Heat, Blundstone Arena, 4:00pm
Saturday, January 01, 2022 – Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Renegades, C.ex Coffs International, Stadium 7:30pm
Sunday, January 02, 2022 – Melbourne Stars v Perth Scorchers, CitiPower Centre, 3:30PM
Sunday, January 02, 2022 – Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers, Sydney Showground Stadium, 7:15pm
Monday, January 03, 2022 – Melbourne Stars v Melbourne Renegades, MCG, 7:15pm
Tuesday, January 04, 2022 – Brisbane Heat v Sydney Sixers, Metricon Stadium, 6:15pm
Wednesday, January 05, 2022 – Adelaide Strikers v Hobart Hurricanes, Adelaide Oval, 5:35pm
Wednesday, January 05, 2022 – Perth Scorchers v Sydney Thunder, Optus Stadium, 6:15pm
Thursday, January 06, 2022 – Melbourne Renegades v Brisbane Heat, GMHBA Stadium, 6:05pm
Thursday, January 06, 2022 – Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers, Optus Stadium, 6:15pm
Friday, January 07, 2022 – Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Stars, Adelaide Oval, 6:45pm
Saturday, January 08, 2022 – Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Thunder, Marvel Stadium, 6:05pm
Saturday, January 08, 2022: Brisbane Heat v Hobart Hurricanes, Gabba, 7:30pm
Sunday, January 09, 2022: Sydney Sixers v Perth Scorchers, C.ex Coffs International Stadium, 7:15pm
Monday, January 10, 2022 – Melbourne Stars v Adelaide Strikers, MCG, 2:10pm
Monday, January 10, 2022 – Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Thunder, University of Tasmania, Stadium 7:15pm
Tuesday, January 11, 2022 – Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Sixers, GMHBA Stadium, 7:15pm
Wednesday, January 12, 2022 – Brisbane Heat v Adelaide Strikers, Gabba, 6:15pm
Thursday, January 13, 2022 – Sydney Thunder v Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Showground Stadium, 4:00pm
Thursday, January 13, 2022 – Melbourne Renegades v Melbourne Stars, Marvel Stadium, 7:30pm
Friday, January 14, 2022 – Adelaide Strikers v Perth Scorchers, Adelaide Oval, 7:45pm
Saturday, January 15, 2022 – Sydney Sixers v Sydney Thunder, SCG, 7:40pm
Sunday, January 16, 2022 – Melbourne Stars v Brisbane Heat, MCG, 7:40pm
Monday, January 17, 2022 – Hobart Hurricanes v Melbourne Renegades, Blundstone Arena, 7:40pm
Tuesday, January 18, 2022 – Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Sixers, Adelaide Oval, 6:45pm
Wednesday, January 19, 2022 – Brisbane Heat v Perth Scorchers, Gabba, 12:30pm
Wednesday, January 19, 2022 – Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Renegades, Sydney Showground Stadium, 4:40pm
Wednesday, January 19, 2022 – Melbourne Stars v Hobart Hurricanes, MCG, 7:50pm
Friday, January 21, 2022 – Eliminator TBC
Saturday, January 22, 2022 – Qualifier TBC
Sunday, January 23, 2022 – Knockout TBC
Wednesday, January 26, 2022 – Challenger TBC
Friday, January 2022 28, – The Final TBC
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