The Big Bash League will be shortened to 10 games per side this summer after Cricket Australia struck a deal with broadcasters to cut back the competition.
Already due to be 16 games shorter in 2024-25, officials have confirmed the move from 56 regular-season games to 40 will be brought forward to this summer.
The finals series will also be tweaked, going from five teams qualifying to four, with a yet-to-be-determined four-match finals system.
Often criticised for being too long, the reduction in men’s matches takes the competition back to 2017-18 when it was in its prime.
While dates are yet to be set for this summer, the reduced competition should allow the season to be played entirely within the Christmas school holidays.
It will also ensure marquee overseas players are available for a higher percentage of matches, along with giving a greater chance for Australia’s white-ball stars to play all games.
CA had first indicated its desire to shorten the competition during last summer’s broadcast negotiations, with changes mooted for 2024-25.
Both Foxtel and Seven had been open to bringing the change in sooner, but a number of deals had to be struck with club sponsors and to alter venue arrangements.
However, the general feel across most stakeholders was a shorter season would lead to a better competition with increased ratings and exposure for each match.
Ashton Turner cuts away from Jimmy Peirson in the BBL final. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
“A shortened BBL will allow us greater flexibility to ensure we can deliver the best possible fixture for clubs and fans,” BBL general manager Alistair Dobson said.
“(We can do that) while providing a platform that allows players to continue to produce the world-class levels of cricket we’ve seen over the duration of the tournament.”
No changes, however, will be made to the WBBL for now.
While a shorter tournament remains a possibility in the future to continue to attract overseas talent, domestic players prefer a 14-game regular season given it is the pinnacle of their summer.
CA is banking on the notion of drastically increasing the pay for the best overseas talent to $110,000 for the season to try and entice them to the competition.
“It’s vital that we make sure the tournament continues to be at the forefront of T20 Leagues as the global women’s game continues to evolve at a rapid rate,” Dobson said.
“As a league we’re always reviewing and looking at ways we can evolve, adapt and innovate, and as part of that we’ll continue to consider the structure of the WBBL season.”
The BBL will also open the door for clubs to begin re-signing off-contract players from next week, before advances from rivals are made from May 22.
Officials have also confirmed clubs will be able to begin trading draft order picks for the first time as part of player-trade deals.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
While this is true, but the attitude in India may change. Players like PP Shaw can't even get a game in the weakest team, Delhi Capitals and if players like him can't get a run you know there's a 'freedom to work' mission on the horizon. Players should be free to pick and choose who they play for. A cricket players earning capacity is pretty brief in the overall scheme of life.
Tempo
Roar Rookie
I've got bad news for you, the IPL is expanding not contracting. The IPL window is expanding from 2 months to 2.5 months in the next Future Tours Program. You'll never see a single window for all T20 comps because it's not in the various cricket boards' interests. They rely on overseas players to draw interest in their competitions and many rely on Indian money to draw a profit - going up against the IPL in particular would be madness. Note, the BBL would be less affected by this as we are less reliant on overseas stars, but going up against the IPL would cause a problem in the top Australian players choosing between IPL and BBL, with IPL wages in a different stratosphere. If there was a window for all other T20 comps excluding the IPL (again, which I don't see happening), the BBL would be one of the least impacted competitions because we already draw barely any international stars.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Dunno - never seen it, and don't care.
Tempo
Roar Rookie
I think everyone agrees that it would be good for Indian players to be released for overseas T20 leagues. But I just don't see it happening. The BCCI made a deliberate decision to ban their players from playing in overseas competitions to protect the primacy of the IPL. Whilst it would make barely any difference to interest in the IPL if SKY or Jaiswal were playing in other competitions too, we've seen in the recent ICC revenue carve up that the BCCI are only interested in their own revenue and everyone else be damned. IPL franchises have owned overseas teams, in particular in the CPL for many years now with no budging from the BCCI. And in the unlikely event that there is a shift - Indian players are not going to be heading over the BBL which has no Indian ownership - it'll be the SA20 and ILT20 which are already owned by IPL teams.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
You're right Anth, he aint hidden. He is the best T20 bat in the world by a long margin. You can ask any cricketer but start with Sachin Tendulka, Rashid Khan. Brian Lara . Of course you'de know way more than those upstarts which is what makes you so incredibly intelligent.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
You'de hate IPL. It's like a full MCG every night with all the best cricketers in the world playing. And they all get to be famous and make mega money. There's no place for cavemen there. The BBL is the B grade version.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately Ch 7 hasn't been able to deliver to date. Channel 10 did a great job at the start of BBL.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
It may end up be harder and harder for BBL to sign foreign players with more then one IPL through the year and them not letting their signed players to play for other comps. Non IPL gets straggled
All day Roseville all day
Roar Guru
Ideally 40 matches on 40 consecutive nights, and every single one on free-to-air commencing at say 7pm, with many of them immediately following a day of Test cricket on TV. That's what it felt like 5-10 years ago, and it seemed to work.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Now cut IPL back. Better still, have one window for all T20 comps to be played.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
Yes, but that's what needs to change. All the South African T20 franchises are owned by businesses that own IPL franchisees. They are bringing pressure to the table. Unfortunately the gigantic difference in income was revealed yesterday where I think the BCCI was awarded about $210m more than CA in annual payments by the ICC.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
Indian IPL players are not allowed to play in foreign t20 leagues.
Anth
Roar Rookie
If the players you mention are relying on some half baked provincial T20 competition in order to garner some widespread credibility, I believe you are somewhat deluded. I reckon I saw enough of Yadav at international level when India played Australia earlier this year and he managed to accumulate three consecutive golden ducks. I’ll give you the message; he ain’t no hidden gem.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Was inevitable based on fan feedback (including at the gate) plus the competition from the SAF/UAE leagues on at the same time. BBL's best position is to be "bite-sized", being a (relatively) short comp that captures and then holds fan attention (before that attention peters out) and also enables it to attract the best talent which is typically only going to be available for short commitments in the cricket calendar (5 or 6 weeks, not 8 to 10).
Redcap
Roar Guru
I loathe T20 cricket, so it's very hard to not remark upon the quite remarkable phenomenon of commercial broadcasters being willing to pay for less of the 'product'. :stoked:
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
Good move. It was way too loooooong last year
Simoc
Roar Rookie
Hopefully this move revitalises the Big Bash. And better still if the visiting players play the whole comp. Next thing should be to get a few Indian players as well. Guys like Jaiswal, S Yadav would be a revelation here. At least the BBL is back on track after the failures of the previous CA board.