Big Bash League expands with the home and away format

All the eight contesting sides will play each other home and away across a 56 games league stage.

Cricket Australia wants to expand the BBL and reaffirm its status as the spectacle in Australian summer. (Getty)

The Big Bash League(BBL) has been expanded to the new home and away format, with Cricket Australia ambitioned to further make the competition an annual spectacle during the cricketing summer down under.

As many as 59 matches will be played in the eighth edition of the ever-growing league - 16 more than the previous season - with the all the 8 teams playing each other twice on home and away basis. Each side will be playing 14 games before the Knock-outs, in the competition scheduled to kickstart on December 19, 2018 and run till February 17, 2019. 

Defending champions Adelaide Strikers will be taking on against Brisbane Heat at The Metricon Stadium in Gold Coast. The Metricon will host its first International match this Australian summer, when the visiting South African side plays one of the 3 T20Is at the venue. During the BBL, the ground will serve as the home ground of Brisbane Heat. 

Traeger Park in Alice Springs and the UTAS Stadium in Launceston will also be hosting matches in the upcoming season. Adelaide Strikers play a home game against Perth Scorchers in Alice Springs while Hobart Hurricanes host Scorchers and Strikers in Launceston.

 Kim McConnie, head of the BBL, was quoted saying, "The objective of moving the BBL to a full home and away fixture is consistent with Cricket Australia's strategy of growing the Big Bash and becoming number one for fans across Australia, With more games, in more locations, we believe this is going to be one of the most exciting, action-packed BBL seasons to-date."

"This summer, there will be 56 regular season matches, up from 40 last season, meaning each of the eight teams will play each other twice in addition to the two semi-finals and the final. The season will extend past school holidays, so as the competition moves into February, there will be more family-friendly timeslots on weekends to help drive participation,"

(Inputs from Cricbuzz)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 18 Jul, 2018

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