The complete guide to the KFC Big Bash League, kicking off on Thursday December 17
BBL|05: All you need to know
What is BBL cricket?
That’s a great question, so here’s a handy video that helps explain what the competition is all about!
Who’s Playing?
Adelaide Strikers: Brad Hodge (c), Jonathon Dean, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Mahela Jayawardena (OS), Alexander Keath, Hamish Kingston, Ben Laughlin, Jake Lehmann, Tim Ludeman, Michael Neser, Gary Putland, Adil Rashid (OS), Kane Richardson, Alex Ross, Craig Simmons, Kelvin Smith, Billy Stanlake. Coach: Jason Gillespie.
Read the full Strikers season preview
Brisbane Heat: Chris Lynn (c), Samuel Badree (OS), Nicholas Buchanan, Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Alex Doolan, Andrew Fekete, Luke Feldman, Jason Floros, Peter Forrest, James Hopes, Josh Lalor, James Peirson, Nathan Reardon, Mark Steketee, Lendl Simmons (OS). Coach: Dan Vettori.
Read the full Heat season preview
Hobart Hurricanes: Tim Paine (c), George Bailey, Cameron Boyce, Dan Christian, Ben Dunk, Michael Hill, Joe Mennie, Dominic Michael, Simon Milenko, Sam Rainbird, Jake Reed, Clive Rose, Darren Sammy (OS), Kumar Sangakkara (OS), Shaun Tait, Timm van der Gugten, Beau Webster, Jonathan Wells. Coach: Damien Wright.
Read the full Hurricanes season preview
Melbourne Renegades: Aaron Finch (c), Tom Beaton, Dwayne Bravo (OS), Tom Cooper, Xavier Doherty, Callum Ferguson, Cameron Gannon, Chris Gayle (OS), Nathan Hauritz, Peter Nevill, James Pattinson, Nathan Rimmington, Matthew Short, Peter Siddle, Chris Tremain, Matthew Wade, Guy Walker, Cameron White, Nick Winter. Coach: David Saker.
Read the full Renegades season preview
Melbourne Stars: David Hussey (c), Michael Beer, Scott Boland, James Faulkner, Seb Gotch, Evan Gulbis, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, John Hastings, Ben Hilfenhaus, Glenn Maxwell, Kevin Pietersen (OS), Rob Quiney, Marcus Stoinis, Tom Triffitt, Daniel Worrall, Luke Wright (OS), Adam Zampa. Coach: Stephen Fleming.
Read the full Stars season preview
Perth Scorchers: Adam Voges (c), Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Michael Carberry (OS), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Marcus Harris, Brad Hogg, Michael Klinger, Simon Mackin, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, James Muirhead, Joel Paris, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Sam Whiteman, David Willey (OS). Coach: Justin Langer.
Read the full Scorchers season preview
Sydney Sixers: Moises Henriques (c), Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Doug Bollinger, Johan Botha (OS), Ryan Carters, Ben Dwarshius, Michael Edwards, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Trent Lawford, Michael Lumb (OS), Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Stephen O'Keefe, Jordan Silk, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc. Coach: Greg Shipperd.
Read the full Sixers season preview
Sydney Thunder: Mike Hussey (c), Fawad Ahmed, Ahillen Beadle, Aiden Blizzard, Pat Cummins, Jake Doran, Chris Green, Chris Hartley, Jacques Kallis (OS), Usman Khawaja, Alister McDermott, Andrew McDonald, Clint McKay, Kurtis Patterson, Ben Rohrer, Andre Russell (OS), Gurinder Sandhu, Shane Watson. Coach: Paddy Upton.
Read the full Thunder season preview
What about BBL Fantasy?
BBL Fantasy is back, bigger and better than ever. For a full list of the changes to team selection and scoring, click here.
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What are the rules and who’s enforcing them?
For some light reading ahead of the season opener, view the list of rules and regulations for this season’s BBL here.
You can see who will be in charge of each match with the list of match official appointments here.
How can I tune in?
For fans in Australia, every match will be shown live on Network Ten around the country with streaming available to Live Pass subscribers on cricket.com.au and via the Cricket Australia Live app.
Radio coverage will be provided by the Macquarie Radio Network for every match with fans able to listen for free on the CA Live app and in the cricket.com.au Match Centre.
Don’t forget, eligible Optus customers get access to a free Live Pass, as well as extended video highlights of every match BBL match. More info here.
Here’s where to go for the latest BBL updates on social media:
And you can now follow on Snapchat at ‘bigbashleague’
What about going to a game?
That’s a great idea! Adult tickets to BBL|05 start from $20, kids tickets from $5, and family tickets from $42.50. For more information and to make a purchase, click here.
Organisers have this year announced that fans have the chance to win a family trip to Warner Bros. Movie World on the Gold Coast by attending one of their BBL Club's nominated matches.
The more successful the home club is in the first innings, the greater chance fans have of winning; the more sixes they hit or wickets they take, the more families will win the prize.
At each nominated match the league will also be selecting one fan from the crowd to attend the BBL|05 final to represent their BBL club and compete in an on-field competition for the chance to win a family trip to Los Angeles to visit Warner Bros. Studios, the home of 2016 blockbuster movie Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
As part of the partnership, the January 2 match between Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers at the WACA will see the clubs wearing limited edition Batman and Superman playing gear respectively.
To find out more about BATMAN v SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, visit www.batmanvsupermanmovie.com.au, and you can pre-order your Batman or Superman playing shirts here now.
See terms and conditions of aforementioned competition here.
Warner Bros. competition matches
Hobart Hurricanes v Brisbane Heat at Blundstone Arena, Tues Dec 22
Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers at #TheFurnace, Sat Jan 2
Adelaide Strikers v Perth Scorchers at Adelaide Oval, Tues Jan 5
Brisbane Heat v Adelaide Strikers at The Gabba, Fri Jan 8
Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Renegades at Spotless Stadium, Mon Jan 11
Melbourne Stars v Brisbane Heat at MCG, Thurs Jan 14
Sydney Sixers v Sydney Thunder at SCG, Sat Jan 16
Melbourne Renegades v Adelaide Strikers at Etihad Stadium, Mon Jan 18
KFC Big Bash League Final, Sun Jan 24, venue TBC
What does the full fixture look like?
This season’s schedule features 35 matches in 39 days with four primetime double-headers.
Unlike last summer’s schedule which saw Manuka Oval host the final as a result of World Cup complications, the highest-qualifying final team will earn the right to host the decider.