Australia’s white-ball international players will be available for this summer’s entire BBL, with the competition’s finals to be brought back into the January school holiday window.
With next year’s T20 World Cup to be held on home soil, Cricket Australia appear keen to shine the spotlight on the shortest version of the game with a disappointing showing in the Caribbean somewhat forcing their hand.
The lack of T20 experience was highlighted in the series loss to the West Indies this week, with still two matches to go in the five-match contest.
The lack of experience for Australia’s best players in the format pales significantly in comparison to their West Indian counterparts.
This summer’s Big Bash schedule will at least go some way to solving that problem just nine months out from the home World Cup.
While Australia’s three frontline quicks along with David Warner and Steve Smith will miss the majority of the competition, white-ball specialists will be available throughout.
It’s likely to see Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa, Dan Christian and others will now have an uninterrupted run of white-ball cricket before taking centre stage in 2022.
CA officials also confirmed to AAP that Australian players would be able to play in the final on January 28, before flying to Perth the next day for an ODI against England on January 30.
The shifting of the tournament back to a January finish is seen as crucial, after organisers were accused of dragging the event in recent years.
Altogether 12 double-headers will be played, as well as a triple-header to round out the regular season on January 19.
It marks the first time the final will be played in January since 2017, before the competition expanded to 14 games per team.
All matches are at this stage scheduled to be played in a home-and-away format rather than hubs, beginning with the Sydney Sixers hosting Melbourne Stars on December 5.
Other key points of the draw include clashes between the Ashes and BBL matches, with all five nights of the Perth Test to feature Big Bash matches.
While the Perth Test will be played during the day this year, the different time zones mean there will be around an hour of overlap for broadcasters to contend with.
Likewise, Big Bash matches have been scheduled for the final two days of the Adelaide day-night Test, although that has traditionally finished early.
The first Sydney derby will also be played on Boxing Day at the Sydney Showgrounds, and while there is a Christmas Eve match in Hobart no game is scheduled for December 25.
AAP
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