The ‘critical’ component to proposed Big Bash shake-up … and how it could backfire

Cricket Australia (CA) has no plans to remove the Boxing Day and New Year's Test matches from the calendar despite facing challenges in balancing Test cricket with the Big Bash League (BBL) schedule. Attracting top domestic and international players remains a significant issue for the BBL, as stars like Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc often miss the T20 tournament due to Test commitments or workload management.

Following a review by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) commissioned by CA, recommendations have been made to consider selling private minority stakes in BBL clubs and explore future expansion. While the BBL has previously avoided private investment unlike many overseas leagues, CA will now spend several months studying the report before deciding whether to adopt a model similar to the UK's Hundred competition. CA chair Mike Baird confirmed there is "no timeline" for potential privatization, stating it's not inevitable and requires careful consideration of stakeholders and opportunities to grow the game, adding "there’s some urgency" to decide.

CA CEO Todd Greenberg emphasized that any changes must benefit the entire sport of cricket "from top to bottom" for them to work. CA's long-term goal is to create a dedicated January window, described by Baird as "critical," where Australia's best players are available for the BBL. Under the proposed revamp, no national men's team matches would be scheduled after the Sydney New Year's Test. CA intends to negotiate with the ICC to avoid scheduling international fixtures for Australia between early January and mid-February, mirroring the approach taken by India for the IPL window.