Full BBL schedule confirms window for Test stars

Australia's Test stars will get more opportunities to play Big Bash this summer with today's schedule release confirming a January window in which some of the nation's best red-ball players will be available.

The Big Bash League has revealed the fixture for the 12th edition of the tournament with a return to its "traditional" mid-December start date and a full seven-match home schedule for each of the eight clubs following two seasons heavily impacted by border restrictions.

But it was Cricket South Africa's withdrawal from January's three-match one-day international series against Australia yesterday that is expected to have the biggest impact on this summer's KFC BBL, which frees up the country's white-ball stars like Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa and Mitch Marsh to play a full season for their clubs.

After the Sydney New Year's Test from January 4-8, all of Australia's best cricketers will have the opportunity to play in the Big Bash in what shapes as a huge boost for the competition following two years of COVID squad bubbles that has limited their availability.

FULL KFC BBL|12 SCHEDULE

FULL WEBER WBBL|08 SCHEDULE

It means someone like Usman Khawaja, who recently signed with the Brisbane Heat after 11 seasons with Sydney Thunder, and Test, ODI and Adelaide Strikers wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey could both be available for up to six matches to finish the home-and-away season.

Canberra will launch BBL|12 when Manuka Oval hosts Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Stars on Tuesday December 13, which is the day after Australia's day-night Test against the West Indies at Adelaide Oval is scheduled to finish.

Adelaide cricket fans won't have to wait long for their next home game, with the Strikers to host the Sydney Sixers the following day in a re-match of last season's nail-biting Challenger final.

The Sixers also don't have to wait long to avenge their BBL|11 grand final defeat, with the Perth Scorchers to open their season with a blockbuster rematch at Optus Stadium on Saturday December 17, which will be their first game at home in 374 days.

The regular season concludes on Wednesday January 25 with a double-header between the Hobart Hurricanes and Brisbane Heat (University of Tasmania Stadium, 1.40pm) and the Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder at the MCG (7.15pm).

The Eliminator, Qualifier and Knockout finals will be held from January 27-29 with the Challenger and decider to take place the following weekend on February 2 and 4 – the fifth time in six years that the season will finish in the second month of the year.

It's understood league officials considered a range of options around the season length but existing commitments and team travel patterns meant the end result is that BBL|12 is only a day shorter from start to finish than BBL|11.

"The reality is this is about as compressed as the season could be at the same time as (having) a really good flow," said Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia's general manager of Big Bash Leagues.

"It feels like we have a pretty solid footprint for the competition and there's no day-night Test matches in the BBL|12 window.

"We've scheduled it in a way where that first week of matches is pretty strategic around school and summer holidays and still finishing the regular season before the end of January, which is always an important objective for us.

"I do like the rhythm then of the big build up to the finals each weekend with Friday, Saturday, Sunday into a Thursday, Saturday final. After a few years of that finals system, it's starting to take shape and be a good end to the season."

While the cancellation of the ODI series has opened a window of almost three weeks for Australia's top players to take part, it's yet to be see who will choose to take part.

David Warner, Steve Smith, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head and Cameron Green are the Test players currently without BBL deals, with Mitchell Starc and skipper Pat Cummins having already indicated they intend to skip the competition this season to prioritise international cricket with a four-Test tour to India on the horizon in February-March.

"Every player that represents Australia is someone the BBL would love to have playing and given the majority of those centrally contracted players are already part of the BBL, it's such an exciting part of the competition," Dobson said.

"Now that we have clarity on the BBL season and international schedule, it gives us and our clubs the opportunity to have another conversation with those players around whether they're able to participate and whether they've got the capacity given such a hectic (international) schedule they've got for the next 12 to 18 months."

Big Bash cricket will be showcased at 17 grounds across the country this summer, including three new venues, with Lavington Sports Ground in Albury, Cazalys Stadium in Cairns and North Sydney Oval to host home matches for the Thunder, Heat and Sixers respectively.

Coffs Harbour, Geelong, Metricon Stadium, Manuka Oval, University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston and Junction Oval will again host BBL fixtures, along with the eight traditional home stadiums.

The Melbourne derbies will be held on January 3 at the MCG with the return leg at Marvel Stadium on January 14, while the Sydney derbies are on January 8 (Sydney Showground Stadium) and January 21 (SCG).

The Strikers will host their traditional New Year's Eve game at Adelaide Oval against the Stars, and the Hurricanes their annual Christmas Eve afternoon match at Blundstone Arena against the Renegades.

Seven will show 45 BBL|12 matches live, including the finals, while all 61 games will be broadcast on Foxtel and Kayo and further coverage on SEN.

Tickets to all matches will be available via pre-sale on August 16 and available to the public from August 18.