Big Bash League to expand from season 7

The Big Bash League (BBL) has been a boon for the Australian cricket. The domestic T20 league has produced some fine young cricketers and have given veterans a fair chance to extend their careers. However, BBL is going to get big from next year. It is set to expand and expand big as the 2017-18 season will see teams play 40 matches instead of the current 32.

The popularity of the league has increased over the years, with over one million people attending the matches and the same amount of people watching it over the television each night. Anthony Everard, who is the head of the BBL reasoned the expansion saying, “This expansion is designed to drive Cricket Australia’s strategy to ultimately continue to be Australia’s favorite sport and a sport for all Australians.”

He also confirmed that there will not be any addition to the number of teams in the BBL but didn’t rule out the possibility of the same in the future. “At present, there are no plans to increase the number of teams in the League in the immediate future, but we remain open minded about future expansion plans,” he was quoted by Cricbuzz as saying.

Everard was full of enthusiasm as he went on to explain the expansion of cricket in Australia. “The scheduling of the additional eight matches in a manner that complements the existing regular season fixture is aimed at encouraging more people to pick up a bat and ball and give cricket a go.

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“We haven’t yet finalized the locations of these additional matches yet, but we are working closely with clubs to explore options. A state-by-state approach will be taken to determine the most appropriate location to host this additional fixture, taking into account aspects including existing contractual obligations, participation and fan growth opportunities, and venue infrastructure,” he said while talking about spreading cricket to the most remote areas in Australia.

The expansion is not only for the men’s BBL but it is also designed for the Women’s BBL as well. “The opportunity to expand matches into non-traditional markets is not just limited to the men’s game. We are working to see how we can also schedule Women’s Big Bash League matches in these new venues, once they are finalized,” he further explained.

There are more than 100 BBL matches planned for the next season. “We’re always looking at opportunities to grow the game and expand our fan base beyond traditional markets and demographics,” he said.