Big Bash derby returns to New Year's Day
The Melbourne derby returns to New Year’s Day while Big Bash League cricket will feature on the MCG until at least the second week of February as part of the BBL fixture to be released in full on Wednesday.
Meanwhile the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades are set to take two homes games each to regional venues as Cricket Australia squeezes an extra 16 games into the BBL calendar.
The first summer of a 59-game BBL, in which all eight clubs will play a full complement of home-and-away games, is set to begin in the third week of December.
Perenially affected by the Boxing Day Test, the Stars yet again won’t play at home until the new year, with a home derby against the Renegades on January 1 the green side’s first game at the MCG for the campaign. The derby was played on New Year’s Day in 2017, but was pushed to later in January last year. The 2019 edition will be a double-header with the WBBL derby.
The Stars will play five regular-season games at the MCG, the last of which will be against the Sydney Sixers on the afternoon of Sunday, February, 10, part of the BBL’s push deep into February.
Stars home games against Sydney Thunder and the Adelaide Strikers will be held at venues yet to be confirmed, with the matches expected to be held at regional grounds. One mooted option for the Stars is the LaTrobe Valley where the club has a presence, having held a pre-season game in Traralgon last year.
Meanwhile the Renegades will open their campaign against the Perth Scorchers at the newly renamed Marvel Stadium on December 20.
The second derby of the season will be at Docklands on Saturday January 19, while the Renegades will play home games at alternate venues on January 3 against the Strikers, and January 13 against Brisbane Heat. Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium, venue for a Renegades home game last summer against the Sixers, is again expected to host Renegades action.
As part of CA’s landmark television rights deal signed in April, Fox Sports will broadcast all 59 BBL games, 43 of which will also be screened by Channel Seven.
RENEGADES HOME MATCHES
Thursday, December 20, 2018 v Perth Scorchers, Marvel Stadium, 7.15PM
Saturday, December 29, 2018 v Sydney Sixers, Marvel Stadium, 7PM
Thursday, January 3, 2019 v Adelaide Strikers, TBC, 7.15PM
Monday, January 7, 2019 v Hobart Hurricanes, Marvel Stadium, 7.15PM
Sunday, January 13, 2019 v Brisbane Heat, TBC, 6.35PM
Saturday, January 19, 2019 v Melbourne Stars, Marvel Stadium, 6.45PM
Wednesday, January 30, 2019 v Sydney Thunder, Marvel Stadium, 7.15PM
STARS HOME MATCHES
Tuesday, January 1, 2019 v Melbourne Renegades, MCG, 7.15PM
Saturday, January 5, 2019 v Sydney Thunder, TBC, 5.15PM
Wednesday, January 9, 2019 v Perth Scorchers, MCG, 7.15PM
Monday, January 14, 2019 v Hobart Hurricanes, MCG, 7.15PM
Wednesday, January 23, 2019 v Adelaide Strikers, TBC, 2.45PM
Sunday, January 27, 2019 v Brisbane Heat, MCG, 7.40PM
Sunday, February 10, 2019 v Sydney Sixers, MCG, 2.45PM