Brisbane Heat and Melbourne Stars to Kick off Big Bash League Season 13

he much-anticipated 13th season of the Big Bash League (BBL) will commence with a clash between last year's finalists, Brisbane Heat and Melbourne Stars, at the Gabba on December 7, according to the recently announced schedule. The upcoming season will feature a new-look 40-match fixture and a four-game finals series.

Notably, the league will begin a week earlier than usual, with the regular season concluding at Sydney Showground Stadium when Sydney Thunder hosts Melbourne Renegades. The revamped finals series, inspired by the format of the Indian Premier League (IPL), will commence two days later, with the Final scheduled to take place on January 24, during the school holidays.

The finals series will witness the top two teams competing for a spot in the Final through "The Qualifier," while the third and fourth-placed teams will participate in "The Knockout." The winner of The Knockout will progress to the "Challenger" stage, alongside the loser of The Qualifier, and the winner of the Challenger will advance to the Final.

Cricket enthusiasts can look forward to 35 nights of prime-time Big Bash action, with host broadcaster Seven televising 30 matches of the KFC BBL|13 live. The schedule includes two highly anticipated Boxing Day blockbusters, with the Sydney Sixers hosting the Melbourne Stars and the Perth Scorchers facing off against the Melbourne Renegades. Additionally, a New Year's Day double-header is set, featuring the Hobart Hurricanes hosting the Sydney Thunder at Blundstone Arena, followed by the Brisbane Heat welcoming the Sydney Sixers for the second annual New Year's Bash at the Gabba.

Alistair Dobson, General Manager of Big Bash Leagues, expressed his excitement about the upcoming season, stating, "We're incredibly pleased and excited with the BBL fixture we've been able to deliver this season, with an array of highlights for fans to embrace throughout the summer period."

Dobson also highlighted the earlier start date of the season, allowing for engagement with communities and fans across seven blockbuster nights of Big Bash cricket before the first Men's Test in Perth. He further emphasized the significance of the new finals structure, culminating in a prime-time Final during the school holidays, providing an enhanced experience for fans.

In addition, Dobson revealed that plans for the ninth edition of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) will be unveiled in the following week. Cricket enthusiasts can eagerly anticipate the announcement of the WBBL|09 schedule as preparations for the highly anticipated women's tournament are finalized.