As cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the commencement of the 13th edition of the Big Bash League (BBL) on December 7, Cricket Australia has introduced significant changes to the tournament format, promising an exhilarating season filled with intense T20 action. Scheduled to run until January 24, 2024, the BBL 2023-24 aims to captivate fans with a condensed schedule featuring 44 T20 matches, a reduction from the previous 61, in an effort to streamline the tournament window.
Participating Franchises: Eight Teams, One Title
Eight franchises will vie for the coveted BBL 2023-24 title, showcasing the best of Australian T20 cricket talent. The teams in contention are Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars, Perth Scorchers, Sydney Sixers, and Sydney Thunder. The league stage will comprise 40 matches, with each team playing 10 games.
Playoffs Format: A New Thrilling Structure
The playoffs stage has undergone a revamp, introducing a four-game finals series to determine the ultimate BBL champion. After the conclusion of the league matches, the top four teams in the standings will advance to the playoffs. The Qualifier will see the top two teams battle for a direct entry into the final, while the third and fourth-placed teams will face off in the Knockout.
The winner of the Knockout will progress to the Challenger, where they’ll meet the losing team from the Qualifier. The victor of the Challenger secures the last coveted spot in the BBL 2023-24 final.
Grand Finale: January 24, 2024
The culmination of the thrilling season will take place in the BBL 2023-24 final on January 24, 2024. Fans can expect high-octane action as the top teams compete for supremacy in the marquee event, adding an exclamation point to the revamped BBL season.
Big Bash League 2023-24 teams and squads
Adelaide Strikers: Travis Head (captain), Wes Agar, James Bazley, Cameron Boyce, Alex Carey (wicket-keeper), Brendan Doggett, Henry Hunt, Thomas Kelly, Chris Lynn, Ben Manenti, D’Arcy Short, Matt Short, Henry Thornton, Jamie Overton, Adam Hose, Jake Weatherald, Harry Nielsen (wicket-keeper), David Payne
Brisbane Heat: Usman Khawaja (captain), Xavier Bartlett, Josh Brown, Max Bryant, Spencer Johnson, Matthew Kuhnemann, Michael Neser, Marnus Labuschagne, Jimmy Peirson (wicket-keeper), Will Prestwidge, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson, Colin Munro, Sam Billings (wicket-keeper), Paul Walter, Jack Wildermuth
Hobart Hurricanes: Nathan Ellis (captain), Iain Carlisle, Tim David, Paddy Dooley, Peter Hatzoglou, Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott (wicket-keeper), Matthew Wade (wicket-keeper), Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Billy Stanlake, Mac Wright, Chris Jordan, Sam Hain, Corey Anderson, Liam Guthrie, Nikhil Chaudhary, Sam Heazlett
Melbourne Renegades: Nic Maddinson (captain), Aaron Finch, Jake Fraser-McGurk, MacKenzie Harvey, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Kane Richardson, Tom Rogers, Peter Siddle, Jon Wells, Will Sutherland, Adam Zampa, Quinton de Kock (wicket-keeper), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Joe Clarke (wicket-keeper), Harry Dixon
Melbourne Stars: Glenn Maxwell (captain), Scott Boland, Joe Burns, Hilton Cartwright, Brody Couch, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Sam Harper (wicket-keeper), Joel Paris, Nick Larkin, Tom Rogers, Mark Steketee, Marcus Stoinis, Beau Webster, Haris Rauf, Usama Mir, Liam Dawson
Perth Scorchers: Ashton Turner (captain), Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Cooper Connolly, Aaron Hardie, Nick Hobson, Josh Inglis (wicket-keeper), Matthew Kelly, Mitch Marsh, Hamish McKenzie, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Andrew Tye, Sam Whiteman (wicket-keeper), Zak Crawley, Laurie Evans
Sydney Sixers: Moises Henriques (captain), Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Daniel Hughes, Jordan Silk, Hayden Kerr, Todd Murphy, Steve O’Keefe, Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe (wicket-keeper), Tom Curran, James Vince, Rehan Ahmed, Steve Smith
Sydney Thunder: Chris Green (captain), Cameron Bancroft, Ollie Davies, Matt Gilkes (wicket-keeper), Liam Hatcher, Nathan McAndrew, Blake Nikitaras, Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Gurinder Sandhu, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, David Warner, Alex Hales, Zaman Khan
Double Headers on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day
The festive season will be amplified with double headers on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, treating fans to a cricketing spectacle and ensuring an unforgettable experience as the year comes to a close and the new one begins.
Defending Champions: Perth Scorchers Eyeing Repeat Success
Perth Scorchers enter the season as the defending champions, having clinched an unprecedented fifth title in the previous edition. Their victory over Brisbane Heat in a thrilling final secured their status as the team to beat, setting the stage for an intense battle to defend their crown.
Where to Watch in India: Star Sports and Disney+ Hotstar
For fans in India, the BBL 2023-24 will be broadcast live on Star Sports 2 SD and Star Sports 2 HD TV channels. Live streaming is available on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website, ensuring cricket enthusiasts don’t miss a moment of the exhilarating T20 action.
Big Bash League 2023-24 schedule and live match start times
All match timings are in India Standard Time (IST)
| Day and Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
| Thursday, December 7 | Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Stars | The Gabba, Brisbane | 1:45 PM |
| Friday, December 8 | Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Renegades | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 1:45 PM |
| Saturday, December 9 | Adelaide Strikers vs Brisbane Heat | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide | 1:45 PM |
| Sunday, December 10 | Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers | Simonds Stadium, Geelong | 1:45 PM |
| Monday, December 11 | Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Sixers | North Tasmania Cricket Association Ground, Launceston | 1:45 PM |
| Tuesday, December 12 | Sydney Thunder vs Brisbane Heat | Manuka Oval, Canberra | 1:45 PM |
| Wednesday, December 13 | Melbourne Stars vs Perth Scorchers | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne | 1:45 PM |
| Tuesday, December 19 | Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Thunder | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide | 1:45 PM |
| Wednesday, December 20 | Perth Scorchers vs Hobart Hurricanes | Perth Stadium, Perth | 1:45 PM |
| Thursday, December 21 | Melbourne Renegades vs Brisbane Heat | Docklands Stadium, Melbourne | 1:45 PM |
| Friday, December 22 | Sydney Sixers vs Adelaide Strikers | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 1:45 PM |
| Saturday, December 23 | Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder | Lavington Sports Oval, Albury | 10:00 AM |
| Saturday, December 23 | Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Renegades | Bellerive Oval, Hobart | 1:45 PM |
| Tuesday, December 26 | Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Stars | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 12:35 PM |
| Tuesday, December 26 | Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Renegades | Perth Stadium, Perth | 3:45 PM |
| Wednesday, December 27 | Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder | The Gabba, Brisbane | 1:45 PM |
| Thursday, December 28 | Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Stars | Bellerive Oval, Hobart | 1:45 PM |
| Friday, December 29 | Melbourne Renegades vs Adelaide Strikers | Docklands Stadium, Melbourne | 1:45 PM |
| Saturday, December 30 | Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers | Sydney Showground Stadium, Sydney | 1:45 PM |
| Sunday, December 31 | Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide | 1:45 PM |
| Monday, January 1 | Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder | Bellerive Oval, Hobart | 10:30 AM |
| Monday, January 1 | Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixers | The Gabba, Brisbane | 1:45 PM |
| Tuesday, January 2 | Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne | 1:45 PM |
| Wednesday, January 3 | Sydney Sixers vs Brisbane Heat | International Sports Stadium, Coffs Harbour | 12:35 PM |
| Wednesday, January 3 | Perth Scorchers vs Adelaide Strikers | Perth Stadium, Perth | 3:45 PM |
| Thursday, January 4 | Melbourne Renegades vs Hobart Hurricanes | Docklands Stadium, Melbourne | 1:45 PM |
| Friday, January 5 | Adelaide Strikers vs Perth Scorchers | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide | 1:45 PM |
| Saturday, January 6 | Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Sixers | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne | 1:45 PM |
| Sunday, January 7 | Brisbane Heat vs Hobart Hurricanes | The Gabba, Brisbane | 1:45 PM |
| Monday, January 8 | Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers | Sydney Showground Stadium, Sydney | 1:45 PM |
| Tuesday, January 9 | Adelaide Strikers vs Hobart Hurricanes | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide | 2:10 PM |
| Wednesday, January 10 | Brisbane Heat vs Perth Scorchers | The Gabba, Brisbane | 2:10 PM |
| Thursday, January 11 | Hobart Hurricanes vs Adelaide Strikers | Bellerive Oval, Hobart | 1:45 PM |
| Friday, January 12 | Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunder | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 1:45 PM |
| Saturday, January 13 | Perth Scorchers vs Brisbane Heat | Perth Stadium, Perth | 10:45 AM |
| Saturday, January 13 | Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars | Docklands Stadium, Melbourne | 2:00 PM |
| Sunday, January 14 | Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers | Manuka Oval, Canberra | 1:45 PM |
| Monday, January 15 | Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne | 1:45 PM |
| Tuesday, January 16 | Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Sixers | Perth Stadium, Perth | 2:10 PM |
| Wednesday, January 17 | Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Renegades | Sydney Showground Stadium, Sydney | 1:45 PM |
| Friday, January 19 | Qualifier | TBC | 1:45 PM |
| Saturday, January 20 | Knockout | TBC | 1:45 PM |
| Monday, January 22 | Challenger | TBC | 1:45 PM |
| Wednesday, January 24 | BBL 2023-24 final | TBC | 1:45 PM |
As the BBL 2023-24 unveils its new chapter, cricket aficionados can anticipate a season filled with excitement, innovation, and the electrifying atmosphere that has become synonymous with Australia’s premier T20 competition. Get ready to witness a cricketing spectacle like never before!