The land of the T20 World champions is all set for another stellar season of T20 action with the return of Big Bash League (BBL). This will be the eleventh season of the competition as teams are gearing up to stamp their authority. Champions Sydney Sixers take on Melbourne Stars in the opening contest at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). The competition starts days after the women’s BBL staged its final. Eight teams will once again go toe-to-toe to earn the bragging rights down under.
Defending champions will be poised to retain their title and become the first team to win three titles in a row. Record winners Perth Scorchers on the other hand will be poised to add another title, the team from Western Australia have three titles to their name. The likes of Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Renegades, Sydney Thunder, Hobart Hurricanes and Brisbane Heat will also be in the running.
While there will be eyes forecasted on some big names like Moises Henriques, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade, there are some notable international stars as well. Chris Jordan, Unmukt Chand who was part of India’s U-19 team previously is also going to be part of the tournament.
The league stage will last until January 19, with knockouts scheduled for January 21, 22 and 23. The final will take place on January 26. Some of the Australian stars are currently involved in Australian team playing England in the Ashes. The first Ashes Test will start on December 8 and those players involved will miss a minimum of two weeks. These stars include Travis Head and Usman Khawaja who both have been in scintillating form domestically. All in all this season of BBL will once again bring its fair share of drama.
