Big Bash League unveils new IPL playoff-style final series

1 of 1

Brisbane. Last year’s finalists Brisbane Heat will take on Melbourne Stars in the opening match of the 13th season of the Big Bash League (BBL|13) at the Gabba here on December 7, as per the schedule announced. On Thursday, a new-look 40-match schedule and four-game finals series were unveiled.

The league will start a week earlier and the regular season will end at the Sydney Showground Stadium when the Sydney Thunder host the Melbourne Renegades.

The Big Bash League on Thursday announced that the revamped four-match finals series, similar to the Indian Premier League (IPL), will start two days later, with the final on January 24 during the school holidays.

The top two teams in the finals series will compete through qualifiers for a place in the finals, while the third and fourth placed teams will participate in the knockouts. The winner of the knockout will play the loser of the qualifier in a challenger, the winner of which will advance to the final.

Fans will enjoy 35 nights of Big Bash cricket in prime time, with host broadcaster Seven showing 30 KFC BBL13 matches live.

The schedule includes two Boxing Day blockbusters, with the Sydney Sixers hosting the Melbourne Stars and the Perth Scorchers taking on the Melbourne Renegades. It also included a New Year’s Day double-header with the Hobart Hurricanes hosting the Sydney Thunder (Blundstone) and the Brisbane Heat welcoming the Sydney Sixers for the second annual New Year’s Bash at the Gabba.

Alistair Dobson, General Manager, Big Bash League, said: “We are incredibly pleased and excited to be able to present BBL fixtures this season, including a range of highlights over the summer period for fans to enjoy.’ ‘

“We look forward to seeing the new finals structure implemented, culminating in a prime-time final during the school holidays, which is a real win-win for fans,” Dobson was quoted as saying in a release.

He also informed that the plans for the ninth edition of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) will be announced next week.

“We are working on the final details of the Weber WBBL schedule and look forward to unveiling it in the coming weeks.”(IANS)

read this also – Click to read the news of your state / city before the newspaper