The ninth edition of Australia premier T20 competition returns with a new format and familiar faces....
The Men's Big Bash League is Australia's premier annual 20-over competition, following on from the successful women's tournament.
Kicking off on Tuesday, December 17, it reaches a conclusion on Saturday, February 8.
Like the women's equivalent, eight franchises compete for the title - Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars, Perth Scorchers, Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder.
BIG BASH 2019-20 FIXTURES: Full schedule, timetable, dates for BBL09
Each sides plays one another twice, home and away, during the eight-team double round-robin.
In a change from previous years, the top five will progress to the knock-out stage, where an Indian Premier League-style knock-out stage will determine the eventual champion.
It kicks off with The Eliminator, which sees fourth host fifth, the winner of which will play the side who finishes third for a place in The Challenger.
Meanwhile, first will face second in The Qualifier. The victor progresses directly into the final while the loser will drop into The Challenger, where they will have another chance to reach the final.
A virtual semi-final will take place pitting the side who loses The Qualifier against the winner of third v The Eliminator winner.
While the tournament has grown by two matches, it will be played over less than eight weeks. The finale to the group stage will be contested over a more condensed period, helping to ensure more rests on the latter stages.
The other eye-catching change sees the removal of the boundary count back regulation which helped England beat New Zealand in the 50-over World Cup final.
Going forward, if a knock-out match is tied after regulation play and the super over, another six-ball shoot-out will follow until a winner can be found. A tie in a preliminary stage game will see the points shared, as normal.
Otherwise, normal T20 rules will be adopted for the competition. Across any 20-over innings, bowlers are restricted to a maximum of four overs each. For any no balls or wides bowled, the batting team will be rewarded with one run, as well as a free hit.
In each innings, the first six overs constitute a powerplay with no more than two fielders allowed outside the 25-yard circle. Following this period, a maximum of five fielders are allowed outside the inner ring.
Can Melbourne Renegades retain their title?
In Australia, Fox Sports and streaming service Kayo Sports will broadcast all 61 matches, 16 of which will be on an exclusive basis. Channel Seven share the rights, showing 45 games including the entire knock-out phase.
BT Sport will continue its exclusive rights to Australian cricket in the UK with full coverage of the competition.
BBC Radio Five Live will have commentary of matches on their sister station, Sports Extra.
Sony Six and Sony ESPN HD will be showing matches in India.
The Big Bash has increased the number of overseas players permitted to be signed by a franchise over an entire season to six, to allow for more flexibility during the long campaign which some players have to juggle with international commitments.
The highest-profile player on show might actually be domestically based, with Steve Smith re-joining Sydney Sixers after a five-year absence from the competition.
As far as overseas stars are concerned, Rashid Khan (Adelaide Strikers), AB de Villiers (Brisbane Heat) and Dale Steyn (Melbourne Stars) are the stand-out players, but the likes of David Miller (Melbourne Renegades) and Alex Hales (Sydney Thunder) will light up the tournament also.
Perth Scorchers have won three of the last six editions of the competition, but last season failed to qualify for the knock-out stage for the first time - propping up the eight-team table in last place.
No other side has won the competition on more than one occasion. Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Stars are the only two sides without a title to their name, with the latter having reached the final twice and the semi-finals in four other years.
BIG BASH 2019-20 SQUADS: Full team lists for BBL09
Most bookmakers have installed Brisbane Heat as favourites to win their first crown since 2012-13 at 9/2, with Melbourne Stars next in the order at 5/1.
A clutch of sides are rated at 11/2 including Hobart Hurricanes, defending champions Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers.
Sydney's Sixers and Thunder are meanwhile available at around 15/2 and 17/2 respectively.
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Posted by Hassan Malik on 17/12/2019 at 02:15
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