Cricket Australia have announced a revamped schedule for the 2019-2020 Big Bash League, otherwise known as BBL09. CA have listened to feedback from fans around the country and reduced the length of the BBL season by almost two weeks after complaints that last year’s fixture was too drawn out.
Many of the usual features of the fixture remain, with showcase events on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve, games in regional centres such as Alice Springs, and fifteen double headers to still allow a full home and away season for each team.
However the biggest news of the BBL09 schedule announcement is the new finals system. No longer will the finals be a straight knockout format for the top four teams. Instead, a new final five finals system will see the top two teams better rewarded for their achievements during the regular season by receiving a double chance in the finals. While rewarding the team that finishes fifth with a finals berth, the new system will mean they will have to really earn the trophy by winning four finals games in a row in order to emerge victorious.
There will be more synergy with evening start times, with most games to commence at 7:10pm AEDST, with coverage to be shared between Channel 7 and Foxtel once again.
BBL09 Schedule
All times provided in AEDST, televised on Channel 7 where indicated
Game 1: Tues 17th Dec 7:10pm: Brisbane Heat v Sydney Thunder – Gabba (Ch 7)
Game 2: Wed 18th Dec 7:10pm: Sydney Sixers v Perth Scorchers – SCG (Ch 7)
Game 3: Thurs 19th Dec 7:10pm: Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Thunder – GMHBA Stadium (Ch 7)
Game 4: Fri 20th Dec 1:45pm: Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Sixers – Traeger Park (Ch 7)
Game 5: Fri 20th Dec 7:10pm: Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Stars – Metricon Stadium (Ch 7)
Game 6: Sat 21st Dec 6:10pm: Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers – TBC
Game 7: Sat 21st December 9:10pm: Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Renegades – Optus Stadium
Game 8: Sun 22nd Dec 2:45pm: Melbourne Stars v Hobart Hurricanes – TBC (Ch 7)
Game 9: Sun 22nd Dec 7:10pm: Sydney Sixers v Brisbane Heat – SCG (Ch 7)
Game 10: Mon 23rd Dec 7:10pm: Adelaide Strikers v Perth Scorchers – Adelaide Oval (Ch 7)
Game 11: Tues 24th Dec 2:45pm: Hobart Hurricanes v Melbourne Renegades – Blundstone Arena
Game 12: Thurs 26th Dec 7:10pm: Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers – Optus Stadium (Ch 7)
Game 13: Fri 27th Dec 7:10pm: Melbourne Stars v Adelaide Strikers – Metricon Stadium (Ch 7)
Game 14: Sat 28th Dec 7:10pm: Sydney Sixers v Sydney Thunder – SCG
Game 15: Sun 29th Dec 7:10pm: Melbourne Renegades v Adelaide Strikers – Marvel Stadium (Ch 7)
Game 16: Mon 30th Dec 7:10pm: Hobart Hurricanes v Melbourne Stars – UTAS Stadium (Ch 7)
Game 17: Tues 31st Dec 7:10pm: Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Thunder – Adelaide Oval (Ch 7)
Game 18: Wed 1st Jan 7:10pm: Brisbane Heat v Perth Scorchers – Metricon Stadium (Ch 7)
Game 19: Thurs 2nd Jan 3:40pm: Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Stars – Sydney Showgrounds
Game 20: Thurs 2nd Jan 7:10pm: Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Sixers – Marvel Stadium (Ch 7)
Game 21: Fri 3rd Jan 7:10pm: Hobart Hurricanes v Brisbane Heat – Blundstone Arena (Ch 7)
Game 22: Sat 4th Jan 7:10pm: Melbourne Stars v Melbourne Renegades – MCG
Game 23: Sun 5th Jan 7:10pm: Sydney Sixers v Adelaide Strikers – TBC (Ch 7)
Game 24: Sun 5th Jan 9:40pm: Perth Scorchers v Hobart Hurricanes – Optus Stadium
Game 25: Mon 6th Jan 7:10pm: Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat – Sydney Showgrounds (Ch 7)
Game 26: Tues 7th January 7:10pm: Melbourne Renegades v Perth Scorchers – GMHBA Stadium (Ch 7)
Game 27: Wed 8th Jan 3:40pm: Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Sixers – Adelaide Oval
Game 28: Wed 8th Jan 7:10pm: Melbourne Stars v Sydney Thunder – MCG (Ch 7)
Game 29: Thurs 9th Jan 7:10pm: Brisbane Heat v Hobart Hurricanes – Gabba (Ch 7)
Game 30: Fri 10th Jan 7:10pm: Melbourne Renegades v Melbourne Stars – Marvel Stadium (Ch 7)
Game 31: Sat 11th Jan 6:10pm: Sydney Thunder v Hobart Hurricanes – Sydney Showgrounds, 6:10pm
Game 32: Sat 11th Jan 9:10pm: Perth Scorchers v Brisbane Heat – Optus Stadium
Game 33: Sun 12th Jan 3:40pm: Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Renegades – Adelaide Oval
Game 34: Sun 12th Jan 7:10pm: Melbourne Stars v Sydney Sixers – MCG (Ch 7)
Game 35: Mon 13th Jan 7:10pm: Hobart Hurricanes v Perth Scorchers – Blundstone Arena (Ch 7)
Game 36: Tues 14th Jan 3:40pm: Brisbane Heat v Adelaide Strikers – Gabba
Game 37: Wed 15th Jan 6:10pm: Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Renegades – TBC (Ch 7)
Game 38: Wed 15th Jan 9:10pm: Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Stars – Optus Stadium (Ch 7)
Game 39: Thurs 16th Jan 7:10pm: Sydney Sixers v Hobart Hurricanes – SCG (Ch 7)
Game 40: Fri 17th Jan 3:40pm: Adelaide Strikers v Brisbane Heat – Adelaide Oval
Game 41: Sat 18th Jan 3:40pm: Melbourne Stars v Perth Scorchers – MCG
Game 42: Sat 18th Jan 7:10pm: Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers – Sydney Showgrounds (Ch 7)
Game 43: Sun 19th Jan 2:45pm: Hobart Hurricanes v Adelaide Strikers – UTAS Stadium (Ch 7)
Game 44: Sun 19th Jan 7:10pm: Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Renegades – Gabba (Ch 7)
Game 45: Mon 20th Jan 6:40pm: Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Stars – SCG (Ch 7)
Game 46: Mon 20th Jan 9:40pm: Perth Scorchers v Sydney Thunder – Optus Stadium (Ch 7)
Game 47: Tues 21st Jan 7:10pm: Melbourne Renegades v Hobart Hurricanes – Marvel Stadium (Ch 7)
Game 48: Wed 22nd Jan 7:10pm: Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Stars – Adelaide Oval (Ch 7)
Game 49: Thurs 23rd Jan 7:10pm: Brisbane Heat v Sydney Sixers – Gabba (Ch 7)
Game 50: Fri 24th Jan 6:10pm: Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Thunder – Blundstone Arena (Ch 7)
Game 51: Fri 24th Jan 9:10pm: Perth Scorchers v Adelaide Strikers – Optus Stadium (Ch 7)
Game 52: Sat 25th Jan 3:40pm: Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Renegades – SCG
Game 53: Sat 25th Jan 6:40pm: Melbourne Stars v Brisbane Heat – MCG
Game 54: Sun 26th Jan 2:45pm: Sydney Thunder v Perth Scorchers – Sydney Showgrounds (Ch 7)
Game 55: Sun 26th Jan 7:10pm: Adelaide Strikers v Hobart Hurricanes – Adelaide Oval (Ch 7)
Game 56: Mon 27th Jan 2:45pm: Melbourne Renegades v Brisbane Heat – Marvel Stadium (Ch 7)
The Finals
Times and venues TBD, all finals broadcast on Channel 7
The Eliminator: Thurs 30th Jan: 4th v 5th
The Qualifier: Fri 31st Jan: 1st v 2nd
The Knockout: Sat 1st Feb: 3rd v Winner of The Eliminator
The Challenger: Thurs 6th Feb: Loser of The Qualifier v Winner of The Knockout
Grand Final: Sat 8th Feb: Winner of The Qualifier v Winner of The Challenger
