The Big Bash League bursts back on to the screens of Seven tonight when Sydney Thunder cross enemy lines to take on Brisbane Heat at the Gabba in the opening match of the 2019-20 season.
In a grudge match bound to ensure BBL|09 starts with a blast, the Heat will unveil one of the competition’s most explosive batting line-ups with captain Chris Lynn, Max Bryant and English young gun Tom Banton. But they will have to wait until next month before unleashing this year’s biggest international signing, South African great AB de Villiers.
The Thunder have enormous firepower too, however, with Usman Khawaja, big-hitting Englishman Alex Hales and captain Callum Ferguson, while former Heat stroke-maker Alex Ross is sure to get a hostile reception when he returns to the Gabba for the first time.
Tuesday night’s season opener kicks off 45 BBL matches on Seven in 2019-20, including all marquee games and finals. It also headlines a massive opening week that includes:
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Wednesday night: Sydney Sixers v Perth Scorchers
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Thursday night: Reigning BBL champions Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Thunder
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Friday double-header: Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Sixers; followed by Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Stars
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Sunday double-header: Melbourne Stars v Hobart Hurricanes; followed by Sydney Sixers v Brisbane Heat.
Seven’s commentary team for BBL|09 consists of Ricky Ponting, Damien Fleming, Mel McLaughlin, James Brayshaw, Greg Blewett, Brad Hodge, Lisa Sthalekar, Trent Copeland, Elyse Villani, Abbey Gelmi, Jason Richardson, Andy Maher, Jim Wilson, Alister Nicholson and Erin Holland.
And in a huge coup for cricket fans, Australian Test captain and long-time Hobart Hurricane Tim Paine will also join the Seven team, along with former New Zealand skipper and Brisbane Heat star Brendon McCullum.
This season, the competition’s fixture has undergone a significant revamp. The regular season has been condensed to run for 12 fewer days while maintaining the same number of games; and the finals series has been expanded from three to five games, with the top two teams now enjoying the ‘double chance’.
BBL|09 will welcome a host of international stars including de Villers and fellow South Africans all-time bowling great Dale Steyn (Melbourne Stars) and all-rounder David Miller (Hobart Hurricanes), along with Englishmen Chris Jordan (Perth Scorchers), Alex Hales (Sydney Thunder), Phil Salt (Adelaide Strikers) and Liam Livingstone (Scorchers).
The biggest signing, however, is Steve Smith by the Sydney Sixers, although the world’s best batsman’s international commitments with Australia mean he won’t be available until late in the BBL season.
There’s also no shortage of big names switching teams this season, including:
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Shaun Marsh (Melbourne Renegades, via Perth Scorchers)
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Cameron White (Adelaide Strikers, via Melbourne Renegades)
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Nathan Coulter-Nile (Melbourne Stars, via Perth Scorchers)
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Ben Laughlin (Brisbane Heat, via Adelaide Strikers)
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Fawad Ahmed (Scorchers, via Renegades)
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Jackson Bird (Sydney Sixers, via Melbourne Stars).
TV Broadcast times on Seven:
Tuesday December 17
BBL – Brisbane Heat v Sydney Thunder
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.40pm LIVE on Channel 7
Wednesday December 18
BBL – Sydney Sixers v Perth Scorchers
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.40pm LIVE on Channel 7
Thursday December 19
BBL – Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Thunder
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.40pm LIVE on Channel 7
Friday December 20
BBL – Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Sixers
Perth 11.30am LIVE on Channel 7
Sydney 2.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 2.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 1.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 2.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Friday December 20
BBL – Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Stars
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.40pm LIVE on Channel 7
Sunday December 22
BBL – Melbourne Stars v Hobart Hurricanes
Perth 11.30am LIVE on Channel 7
Sydney 2.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 2.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 1.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 2.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Sunday December 22
BBL – Sydney Sixers v Brisbane Heat
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.40pm LIVE on Channel 7
Monday December 23
BBL – Adelaide Strikers v Perth Scorchers
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Thursday December 26
BBL – Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on Channel 7, 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.40pm LIVE on Channel 7
Friday December 27
BBL – Melbourne Stars v Adelaide Strikers
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Sunday December 29
BBL – Melbourne Renegades v Adelaide Strikers
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Monday December 30
BBL – Hobart Hurricanes v Melbourne Stars
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.40pm LIVE on Channel 7
Tuesday December 31
BBL – Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Thunder
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Wednesday January 1
BBL – Brisbane Heat v Perth Scorchers
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on Channel 7, 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.40pm LIVE on Channel 7
Thursday January 2
BBL – Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Sixers
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.40pm LIVE on Channel 7
Friday January 3
BBL – Hobart Hurricanes v Brisbane Heat
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.40pm LIVE on Channel 7
Sunday January 5
BBL – Sydney Sixers v Adelaide Strikers
Perth 3.30pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 6.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 6.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 5.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Monday January 6
BBL – Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.40pm LIVE on Channel 7
Tuesday January 7
BBL – Melbourne Renegades v Perth Scorchers
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.40pm LIVE on Channel 7
Wednesday January 8
BBL – Melbourne Stars v Sydney Thunder
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.40pm LIVE on Channel 7
Thursday January 9
BBL – Brisbane Heat v Hobart Hurricanes
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.40pm LIVE on Channel 7
Friday January 10
BBL – Melbourne Renegades v Melbourne Stars
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.40pm LIVE on Channel 7
Sunday January 12
BBL – Melbourne Stars v Sydney Sixers
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.40pm LIVE on Channel 7
Monday January 13
BBL – Hobart Hurricanes v Perth Scorchers
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.40pm LIVE on Channel 7
Wednesday January 15
BBL – Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Renegades
Perth 3.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 5.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 5.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Wednesday January 15
BBL – Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Stars
Perth 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Sydney 9.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 9.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 8.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 8.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Thursday January 16
BBL – Sydney Sixers v Hobart Hurricanes
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.40pm LIVE on Channel 7
Saturday January 18
BBL – Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.40pm LIVE on Channel 7
Sunday January 19
BBL – Hobart Hurricanes v Adelaide Strikers
Perth 11.30am LIVE on Channel 7
Sydney 2.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 2.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 1.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 2.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Sunday January 19
BBL – Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Renegades
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.40pm LIVE on Channel 7
Monday January 20
BBL – Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Stars
Perth 3.30pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 5.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Monday January 20
BBL – Perth Scorchers v Sydney Thunder
Perth 6.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Sydney 9.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 9.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 8.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 9.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Tuesday January 21
BBL – Melbourne Renegades v Hobart Hurricanes
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.40pm LIVE on Channel 7
Wednesday January 22
BBL – Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Stars
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Thursday January 23
BBL – Brisbane Heat v Sydney Sixers
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.40pm LIVE on Channel 7
Friday January 24
BBL – Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Thunder
Perth 3.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 5.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 5.30pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Friday January 24
BBL – Perth Scorchers v Adelaide Strikers
Perth 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 6.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Sydney 9.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 9.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 8.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 8.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Sunday January 26
BBL – Sydney Thunder v Perth Scorchers
Perth 11.30am LIVE on Channel 7
Sydney 2.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 2.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 1.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 2.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Sunday January 26
BBL – Adelaide Strikers v Hobart Hurricanes
Perth 4.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Sydney 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate, 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Monday January 27
BBL – Melbourne Renegades v Brisbane Heat
Perth 11.30am LIVE on Channel 7
Sydney 2.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 2.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 1.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 2.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Thursday January 30
BBL Finals: The Eliminator (4 v 5)
Teams and broadcast times TBC
Friday January 31
BBL Finals: The Qualifier (1 v 2)
Teams and broadcast times TBC
Saturday February 1
BBL Finals: The Knock-Out (3 v Eliminator winner)
Teams and broadcast times TBC
It is just great that there is no free to air on Saturdays, when most people would actually watch it. But hey I’ll rather watch no sports at all [where, obviously free to air is heading] than to pay up to the pay tv rip off merchants
I live in Brisbane, but most of the January games for the Brisbane Heat aren’t even televised on free to air tv. Do they really want us to take an interest in the local teams? Clearly the powers that be haven’t actually considered that if you televise a game locally, you might generate interest to go and see the local cricket live. Instead we get plenty of telecasts of teams that hold littlke or no interest to the local viewers. I suppose they only care to generate pay for view interest. Its a wonder cricket interest from the general public is on the wane. Cricket isn’t about making dollars or running a business, sadly the bean counters have got into Cricket Australia and forgotten about that.