Big Bash League Cricket Fixtures, Results & News

The Russell 'plane' has landed and all Thunder fans are invited aboard

Daniel Lane 10:39 PM Move over Jarryd Hayne, the 'Russell Plane' has touched down in Sydney's western suburbs and if all goes well for the Sydney Thunder's West Indies import Andre Russell during this summer's Big Bash League the franchise might need an air traffic controller at Spotless Stadium.

'Pitchsiders' finding new ways to stay ahead of the game

Andrew Wu 7:41 PM A computer program used by audacious cyber scammers has emerged as a new weapon for pitchsiders to avoid detection by cricket's anti-corruption officers.

Khawaja cleared to play Big Bash for Thunder

Tom Decent 7:34 PM Usman Khawaja's hopes of playing in the Boxing Day Test have been given a major boost after the Australian first drop was cleared to play for the Sydney Thunder against the Melbourne Stars in a Big Bash match on Sunday.

Live coverage - Big Bash: Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Stars

7:13 PM Follow live coverage from the second match of the 2015-16 Big Bash League series as the Adelaide Strikers host the Melbourne Stars in extremely hot conditions at Adelaide Oval.

Injury puts Winter's Big Bash in doubt

Lee Gaskin 6:57 PM A torn side muscle has ruled Canberra left-armer Nick Winter out for most of the Big Bash League.

Badree, Simmons named for Heat BBL debuts

5:59 PM West Indian import Samuel Badree is set for a belated Brisbane Heat debut after being named in the side for Saturday night's Big Bash League (BBL) opener against the Melbourne Renegades at the Gabba.

Sydney Sixers lose fifth consecutive WBBL match

Tom Decent 5:29 PM The Sydney Sixers have slumped to their fifth consecutive defeat in the Women's Big Bash League after being comprehensively beaten by the Melbourne Stars by nine wickets with 23 balls remaining at Drummoyne Oval on Friday afternoon.

Thunder break drought with win over Sixers

Daniel Lane The BBL's most talked-about drought finally ended after the Sydney Thunder's 40-year-old skipper Michael Hussey led his team to a 36-run win over derby rivals the Sixers.

Lumb drops sitter for Sixers

Sydney Sixers batsman Michael Lumb has had a horror start to this season's Big Bash League, dropping one of the easiest catching chances in recent memory.

Dean ready to learn from Sri Lankan great Jayawardene

Lee Gaskin ACT Comets batsman Jono Dean intends to pick the brain of a man with more than 11,000 Test runs and 400 One-Day Internationals to his credit during his Big Bash League stint with the Adelaide Strikers.

KP to fly back to England for birth

Kevin Pietersen arrived in a flap for the Big Bash League and the Melbourne Stars batsman will soon be back at the airport to make a dash home for the birth of his second child.

Melbourne Stars ready for interstate rivals

Larissa Nicholson The Melbourne Stars will try to stamp their authority on the Women’s Big Bash League when they play in Sydney on the weekend, captain Meg Lanning says.

Chris Gayle: I'm not just here for a good time

Chris Gayle Not every day is Christmas. When I get asked about what went wrong the last time I played in Australia, for Sydney Thunder, that is my answer.

Comments 1

MCG fence stems from 'ugly' reality of terrorism

Daniel Cherny The decision to erect a security fence around the MCG stems from an "ugly" reality, according to Victoria Police assistant commissioner Stephen Leane.

Comments 19

Burdett recruited to improve drop-in pitches

Jesse Hogan Cricket Australia has recruited Australia's best-known curator, Les Burdett, to improve the pitches at the Big Bash League's non-traditional venues, Spotless Stadium and Etihad Stadium.

Sleeping giant Sydney Thunder ready to end Sydney Sixers hoodoo

Andrew Wu, Daniel Lane Michael Hussey has declared the time for excuses is over for Sydney Thunder and now they must deliver, starting with opening night of the Big Bash League against cross town rival Sydney Sixers.

Behrendorff emerges as World T20 bolter

Lee Gaskin Perth Scorchers paceman Jason Behrendorff can use the Big Bash League to stake his claim for a spot in Australia's squad for the World T20 championships in India.

More injury woe for Ferguson

Jesse Hogan A serious knee injury to Callum Ferguson will rob Melbourne Renegades of a valuable batsman for the upcoming Big Bash League season, and consign the luckless batsman to another season on the sidelines.

Blizzard back among Big Bash bright lights

Lee Gaskin ACT Comets coach Aiden Blizzard will be surrounded by superstars and international greats when he lines up for the Sydney Thunder in the explosive opening to the Big Bash League.

Thunder will consider Christmas Day match

Daniel Lane Sydney Thunder general manager Nick Cummins is "open" to talking to Cricket Australia about opening new ground in domestic sport by playing a Big Bash League match on Christmas Day.

Bravo reveals hurt from Windies snubs

Jesse Hogan Dwayne Bravo has launched a passionate defence of playing BBL instead of the Tests against Australia, revealing his lingering hurt at being snubbed by the West Indies for Tests and, especially, this year's World Cup.

Shane Watson hit out of Spotless Stadium

Tom Decent Sydney Thunder all-rounder Andre Russell has launched Shane Watson for one of the biggest sixes you will ever see, hitting him out of Spotless Stadium at a centre wicket practice session on Tuesday evening.

Comments 5

Your guide to the Big Bash League

Jesse Hogan Everything you need to know about the teams and players ahead of the 2015-16 tournament.

Smith, Faulkner earn new $1.1m IPL deals, but Watson into auction

Jesse Hogan Steve Smith and James Faulkner have each secured million-dollar IPL deals to make up for the suspension of their IPL teams, but compatriot Shane Watson will have to enter the player auction to find a new home.

Renegades' Ferguson due for scans

Jesse Hogan Batsman Callum Ferguson's immediate playing future rests on the outcome of scans on Wednesday of a knee injury he suffered in a Big Bash League practice match.

Gayle relishing chance to partner Finch for Renegades

Jesse Hogan It was odd to hear someone who proclaims themselves to be "world boss" deferring to a teammate, but that is exactly what Chris Gayle did when discussing his impending BBL partnership with Aaron Finch.

Thunder import Taylor wants double-headers scrapped from WBBL

Andrew Wu Sydney Thunder's West Indies star Stafanie Taylor has called for Cricket Australia to scrap double headers from the Women's Big Bash League schedule, saying it was too taxing to play two Twenty20 games in a day.

Players want Champions League replacement: Haddin

Chris Barrett With only modest prizemoney available to players in the BBL the scrapping of the T20 best-of tournament has taken away a sizeable financial incentive.

Carters hands gloves to Haddin

Lee Gaskin Sydney Sixers player Ryan Carters is happy to concentrate on making an impact with the bat and to hand the wicketkeeping gloves to retired great Brad Haddin for the Big Bash League.

KP slams Qantas 'muppets'

Kevin Pietersen has let fly at Qantas over their refusal to let him into their lounge because of his footwear.

EXCLUSIVE

Abbott reveals the dream that drives him

Daniel Lane When Sydney Sixers all-rounder Sean Abbott walks onto Spotless Stadium for Thursday night's Big Bash League match against Sydney Thunder he'll be driven by the same dream he's had since he was a child.

Big Bash League prizemoney tripled but players miss out

Chris Barrett and Jesse Hogan Prizemoney for the Big Bash League is up $600,000 for the fifth edition of the tournament but players won't see any of that.

Watson hopes Marsh has proved critics wrong

Chris Barrett The retired Test all-rounder knows a thing or two about being a polarising figure, and he is defensive of another.

Comments 12

Bird ready to soar as Lee's replacement

Daniel Lane Jackson Bird says it's a mistake to compare him to Brett Lee, but if the Victorian had Lee's speed he'd likely be in Australia's attack for the Boxing Day Test.

Lumb wants to be leading run-scorer in BBL

Tom Decent Sydney Sixers import Michael Lumb says his appetite for runs is as healthy as ever and he wants to score more runs than any other batsman in this year's Big Bash League - a competition he views as being the premier of its kind in the world.

Captain confident Renegades can bounce back in women's BBL

Matt Murnane Back-to-back losses was not the way the Melbourne Renegades wanted to start the women's Big Bash League, but captain Sarah Elliott says there is no cause for panic.

Finch and Gayle to form lethal one-two punch for Melbourne Renegades

Matt Murnane Melbourne Renegades captain Aaron Finch is hoping himself and Chris Gayle can live up to the billing as the most lethal one-two punch in the Big Bash League.

Support for Marsh brothers leaves Burns, Khawaja in Boxing Day limbo

Jesse Hogan Australia have guaranteed the selection of one Marsh brother for the Boxing Day Test and are likely to retain the other too, which would leave Queensland duo Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja vying for the remaining berth.

Marsh will be hard to drop: Lehmann

Chris Barrett Darren Lehmann admits Shaun Marsh will be hard to drop as the hosts, having dispatched the West Indies inside three days, face the biggest dilemma of the series inside their own camp.

Comments 13

Carters hopes big hits will bring hope

Daniel Lane Carters will start his campaign buoyed by his effort to have scored 209 runs in the 503 run opening stand he and Aaron Finch compiled for the CA XI against New Zealand in October.

Silk ready to deal with extra attention

Daniel Lane Sydney Sixers batsman Jordan Silk finished the last BBL season being hailed as one of the most exciting young cricketers in the nation, but he knows his biggest challenge when his team opens BBL05 against the Sydney Thunder on Thursday night will be dealing with the extra attention.

Hussey on a mission to add lightning

Daniel Lane As captain of Sydney Thunder's Big Bash League team Michael Hussey's mission is to help the squad's younger players overcome the doubts that tormented him - including the secret fear he wasn't good enough to play for Australia - but, there's a catch.

Comments 1

Everything you need to know about Big Bash 5

Kristen Tsiamis Last year's Big Bash final was a classic - will this season live up to the hype? Here's everything you need to know.

Thunder can handle four games in three days: Osborne

Kristen Tsiamis All-rounder Erin Osborne believes preparation will be the key when the Sydney Thunder embark on their hectic schedule of four WBBL games in the space of three days next week.

Thunder running out of membership cards

Andrew Wu Once the basket case of the Big Bash League, Sydney Thunder are set to say no to members after exceeding their own projections for the upcoming season.

Wright relishes another Stars stint

Jesse Hogan Having arrived in the Big Bash League with no fanfare, as a bit-part player for England, Luke Wright has demonstrated himself to be a key batsman at the top of the order for Melbourne Stars - and fitted in so well that many treat him like he's a local player.

Pressure, passion and precision - welcome to the new Big Bash League season

Daniel Lane Perth Scorchers coach Justin Langer played in plenty of tense battles as the opening batsman for Australia, but as the Big Bash League's most successful coach he's quick to nominate cricket's most pressure-packed format.

More kids, more girls – no testing times for cricket

Michael Gleeson Four years ago Edinburgh Cricket club in Fitzroy had 17 senior and junior teams, this year they have 27 and for the first time they have a girls team in the juniors.

Sweet 16, and about to be a star in the women’s BBL

Larissa Nicholson Sixteen-year-old Georgia Wareham can barely explain how she felt when she learned she had been selected for the newly formed Women's Big Bash league.

Wade to bat, but not keep against Stars

Daniel Cherny Australia's incumbent limited-overs wicketkeeper Matthew Wade will return to action on Friday night.

BBL a chance for White to reclaim spotlight

Jesse Hogan The Big Bash League is a great opportunity for the forgotten man of Victorian cricket, Cameron White, to show why he has been rated among the most destructive limited-overs batsmen in the world.

Wade's injury recovery could see Nevill spared BBL cameo between Tests

Jesse Hogan Test wicketkeeper Peter Nevill may not be needed for a Twenty20 cameo between the Hobart and Boxing Day Tests, with Matthew Wade on track to recover from a broken collarbone in time for Melbourne Renegades' first match in this season's Big Bash League.

AFL rookie Alex Keath signs with BBL

Larissa Nicholson He is rookie listed with Adelaide, but Alex Keath will spend his summer in the Big Bash League.

This West Indian can bat

Chris Barrett Who said the West Indians couldn't bat? There are dire predictions about the prospects of the tourists in the men's Test series against Australia but one of their compatriots lit up the opening weekend of the inaugural Women's Big Bash League

Comments 2

Lanning leads Stars to back-to-back wins

Larissa Nicholson The Melbourne Stars have opened the inaugural Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) with back-to-back wins over the Brisbane Heat.

Hill says future is four-day Tests

Chris Barrett The Australian who helped introduce World Series Cricket and then revolutionised sport on television in the US believes reform in cricket is a no-brainer.

Comments 15

Stars bond quick smart before WBBL debut

Larissa Nicholson It has only been a week since they first met, but Melbourne Stars' coach and players say they have already clicked.

Women's ex-captain returns to represent players

Jesse Hogan Former Southern Stars captain Jodie Fields is so bullish about the potential of women's cricket, fuelled by the creation of the Women's Big Bash League, she has moved to Melbourne to focus on it full-time.

Flintoff believes move to No.7 could be 'best thing ever' for Marsh

Chris Barrett The former England all-rounder admits his own Test career took years to take off and says the young Australian just needs to be given time.

Women's Big Bash boasts spin and substance

Larissa Nicholson The beguiling art of spin bowling will be back in a big way this summer.

Expand the BBL to New Zealand: Fleming

Larissa Nicholson The Big Bash League should be expanded to become a trans-Tasman competition, Stephen Fleming says.

Lara can still attract a crowd of adoring fans

Chris Barrett and Andrew Wu It must be summer. Brian Lara is in town. And going on their first outing against a bunch of kids in Brisbane this week, the West Indies could probably use the legendary Trinidadian.

Revitalised Watson targets World T20

Andrew Wu Shane Watson says he still has the fire in the belly to play international cricket and is aiming to be part of Australia's bid to win their first Twenty20 world title next year.

Comments 5

How a Warne ripper inspired a Chinese top spinner

Philip Wen How Shane Warne inspired the unorthodox rise of a Chinese cricketing hopeful.

BBL on corruption alert with billions of dollars bet on matches

Chris Barrett Players and officials have been warned about the perils of corruption with news that an astounding $2.2 billion was bet on last season's Big Bash League.

Comments 5

Big Bash League headed for record summer crowds. Sorry Windies.

Jesse Hogan Biggest crowds for MCG and SCG this summer likely to be for Big Bash League city derbies, Cricket Australia admits.

BBL broadcaster hails day-night Tests, except for Melbourne and Sydney

Jesse Hogan Big Bash broadcaster Channel Ten would support the majority of home Tests being played under lights - just not the iconic Melbourne and Sydney Tests that share the peak summer spotlight with the BBL.

Test stars to be released, Big Bash set to be biggest show in town

Andrew Wu This summer's Big Bash is set to begin with a bang in Sydney with Australia's Test stars given the all-clear to play the start of the Twenty20 competition.

Comments 1

Sixers sign Chinese spinner

A Chinese spinner who got his start in cricket watching Shane Warne videos on Youtube has earned a rookie contract with the Sydney Sixers.

Maddinson eyes lofty goals for Sixers in BBL5

Andrew Wu Young gun Nic Maddinson has set himself the goal of being the Sydney Sixers' top order match-winner in this summer's Big Bash.

World's best in wicket-keeping revolution

Larissa Nicholson The days of women cricketers wearing wicket-keeping pads are numbered, as they opt for greater ease of movement behind the stumps.

Sixers recruit faces tall order off the pitch

Daniel Lane Mickey Edwards is a fast bowler with a heart big enough to match his towering 203cm frame.

Time to scrap Sheffield final, urges retiring cricket chief

Jon Pierik Having overseen the greatest board and operational changes in Cricket Australia history, retiring chairman Wally Edwards has one more move he would like to see - the scrapping of the beleaguered Sheffield Shield final.

Cameron to take break after losing passion for game

Daniel Cherny Southern Stars veteran Jess Cameron has announced she is taking an indefinite break from cricket.

McKay says Thunder's BBL vision made him see stars

Daniel Lane Clint McKay, who tormented the Sydney Thunder as a member of the Melbourne Stars in last summer's Big Bash League, said the team's "vision" and not their home wicket lured him to sign on for the electric green this season.

Haddin and Nevill still great mates after tough Ashes call

Daniel Lane When Brad Haddin announced his retirement from Test cricket he promised to "be there" for his successor Peter Nevill.

Hogg, 44, returns for another BBL season

At the age of 44, evergreen spinner Brad Hogg has signed for another Big Bash League T20 season.

North endorses moving cricket to Burswood

Jesse Hogan Former Western Australia captain Marcus North has strongly endorsed the looming move of Perth's most prestigious cricket matches away from the WACA Ground, and backed administrators to ensure comparable drop-in pitches will be used at the new stadium in Burswood.

Scorchers, Sixers set to share $1.4m for Champions League cancellation

Jesse Hogan Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers will share in more than $1 million compensation from Cricket Australia for the cancellation of the lucrative Twenty20 tournament.

Michael Clarke may join Channel Nine commentary team

Jon Pierik, Samantha Lane and Larissa Nicholson Having reneged on a commitment to play Big Bash League cricket this summer, Michael Clarke could have the next step in his professional career - joining the Channel Nine commentary team - clarified as early as next week.

Comments 2

Clarke pulls out of BBL deal with Melbourne Stars

Chris Barrett EXCLUSIVE Michael Clarke has pulled out of his contract with Big Bash League team Melbourne Stars, meaning the retired Test captain may well have played his final professional match in Australia.

Comments 13

Floros remains at Heat to learn from Vettori

Lee Gaskin Canberra all-rounder Jason Floros says having the opportunity to learn from champion New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori was a major factor in re-signing with the Brisbane Heat.

Southern Stars relishing tighter links with their male counterparts

Jesse Hogan As Australia's elite men's and women's teams prepare to play on the same day in a double-header, in Cardiff against England, Southern Stars veteran Alex Blackwell says the links between them are growing closer, which is reflected by new men's captain Steve Smith lauding them for winning the women's Ashes.

India players in demand for WBBL

Jesse Hogan Cricket Australia is hopeful the inaugural season of the women's Big Bash League will feature something conspicuously missing from the men's competition - players from India.

No excuses for under performing Heat: Vettori

Beth Newman Despite having some of the most powerful batsmen in their side, the Brisbane Heat finished BBL04 with a wooden spoon.

Comments 2

Pattinson signs Renegades contract extension

Jesse Hogan Melbourne Renegades have seen enough from James Pattinson in his two seasons with them to secure him to a long-term deal - even though Australian duties could limit him to only cameos.

Klinger focused on Australia goal

Jesse Hogan With seven centuries across all formats in England this season Michael Klinger is still making runs – and, as the latest limited-overs squad revealed, is still not considered worthy of an Australian berth.

Three WA Warriors in limited overs teams to face England

Brad Elborough The all-rounder ranks of the Australian limited overs teams announced on Wednesday have a strong WA flavour, with Warriors trio Mitchell Marsh, Ash Agar and Nathan Coulter-Nile have all been selected in a 15-man ODI and T20 squad to tour the British Isles.