The Big Bash League (BBL) is downsizing? The 8-team premier franchise cricket league in Australia could be reduced to a 7-team competition before the 2026-27 season kicks off in Chennai.
BBL franchise merger
According to SEN Cricket, the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades will merge into one ‘Melbourne’ franchise ahead of the 16th edition of the BBL. Cricket Victoria, which are the owners of both franchises, informed their staff on June 2 about the merger.
Cricket Australia’s rulebook on BBL can’t allow the franchise to be called Victoria. Therefore, the official name will be ‘Melbourne’, with Cricket Victoria aiming to work on a nickname for the franchise. The home of the super-franchise will be the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), which serves as the Stars’ base until now.
James Rosengarten, who was the general manager (GM) of the Renegades, will be the new GM of the Melbourne team. Their jersey will most likely be navy blue, a mix of Stars green and Renegades red.
Cricket Victoria wishes to sell the license for Renegades. It’s learnt that 10 contracted players from both teams will be part of the new Melbourne team. However, it’s uncertain what will happen with the uncontracted players at the Stars and the Renegades. The players weren’t privy to the development and are in shock.
New owner?
There will be a meeting regarding Cricket Australia’s privatisation plans for the BBL on June 15 in Melbourne, which means Renegades will be sold to a new owner, assuming there are interested parties. Cricket Australia has been looking to privatise the league, but New South Wales and Queensland are against the move. For now, Cricket Australia will take over the operations for the Renegades.
According to ESPNcricinfo, if the sale isn’t finalised for the BBL 2026-27 season, the Renegades will play with the same jersey, name and players but will be run by Stars GM Max Abbott as a caretaker.
BBL franchises home base & owners
| Team | Location | Home Ground | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide Strikers | Adelaide, South Australia | Adelaide Oval | South Australian Cricket Association |
| Brisbane Heat | Brisbane, Queensland | The Gabba | Queensland Cricket |
| Hobart Hurricanes | Hobart, Tasmania | Bellerive Oval | Cricket Tasmania |
| Melbourne Renegades | Melbourne, Victoria | Docklands Stadium | Cricket Victoria |
| Melbourne Stars | Melbourne, Victoria | Melbourne Cricket Ground | Cricket Victoria |
| Perth Scorchers | Perth, Western Australia | Perth Stadium | WA Cricket |
| Sydney Sixers | Sydney, New South Wales | Sydney Cricket Ground | Cricket New South Wales |
| Sydney Thunder | Sydney, New South Wales | Sydney Showground Stadium | Cricket New South Wales |
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