The stage is set for an electrifying finish to the Big Bash League, with the Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Sixers, Sydney Thunder, and Melbourne Stars vying for glory in this year’s Finals Series.
Starting tonight with the Hurricanes and Sixers clashing for a direct ticket to the Final, fans can expect edge-of-the-seat action, expert commentary from Ricky Ponting and the team, and the culmination of one of the most thrilling BBL seasons to date.
From Seven:
Following one of the most exciting seasons in Big Bash history, Australians are in for an absolute treat on the Seven Network over the next week, as the Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Sixers, Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Stars fight to the finish in this year’s Big Bash League Finals, all live and free on Seven and 7plus.
Kicking off with tonight’s Qualifier between the Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Sixers, live and free from 7.00pm AEDT on Channel 7, 7mate and 7plus Sport, the winner of the clash will progress straight to the Final on Monday, 27 January.
Then, it’s a must-watch on Wednesday night when Seven heads to Sydney as the Sydney Thunder host the Melbourne Stars in a do-or-die Knockout clash, with the winner progressing to Friday night’s Challenger.
Cricket’s #1 commentary team will be on deck for the Finals Series, with the world’s best cricket commentator, Ricky Ponting behind the microphone for Seven for every Finals match.
Ponting will be joined by Seven’s commentary and hosting team throughout the Finals including Aaron Finch, Justin Langer, Brad Hodge, Emma Freedman, James Brayshaw, Jason Richardson and Alister Nicholson.
In a bonus for fans, comedic duo The Grade Cricketer will also commentate tonight’s clash at Hobart’s Ninja Stadium with a secondary commentary feed available on 7plus Sport.
Ricky Ponting said:
“This year’s BBL season has been just fantastic and totally unpredictable. The four finalists have all played their best cricket in the past two weeks and the best is yet to come.”
“The Big Bash Finals always bring out the best in players, and this year is no different.”
“With both the Hurricanes and the Stars chasing their maiden BBL titles and the two Sydney teams as competitive as ever, the stage is set for an unforgettable finish and we’ll be there to bring every moment to the fans live and free on Seven and 7plus,” he said.
Seven Network Head of Cricket, Joel Starcevic, said:
“This season of the Big Bash League has delivered incredible storylines and unforgettable moments, and the excitement is only building as we head into the Finals Series.”
“The Thunder’s remarkable comeback from last season and the Stars’ resilience after a challenging start have been nothing short of extraordinary. All four teams have earned their place in what promises to be a Finals Series to remember.”
“As always, cricket’s #1 commentary team will be on site in stadia around the country for every BBL Finals Match and we cannot wait to hear the roar of the crowd at Ninja Stadium tonight to kick it off,” he said.
Seven Network Director of Sport, Chris Jones, said:
“This Big Bash League season has been nothing short of phenomenal. From record-breaking crowds to edge-of-your-seat matches, Australians have embraced the action like never before.”
“As we gear up for the Finals, Seven is proud to present the ultimate commentary lineup. Having Ricky Ponting calling every BBL final this season is a real treat for cricket fans. His unmatched passion and insights, combined with the expertise of Justin Langer and Aaron Finch, make for an unbeatable team to bring these crucial matches to life.”
“But the cricket feast doesn’t end there. With the Women’s Ashes continuing Thursday and Saturday, leading into the historic Test at the MCG from Thursday, 30 January, and the Australian Men’s tour of Sri Lanka ahead, this summer on Seven and 7plus Sport is shaping up to be unmissable,” he said.
Matches in the Finals series will be held at the home venues of the teams that have earned the right to host by finishing first and second on the ladder. These teams are Hobart Hurricanes (Ninja Stadium) and Sydney Thunder (Engie Stadium).
Fans can also tune into 7mate and 7plus Sport for the glittering Australian Cricket Awards on Monday, 3 February from 8.00pm AEDT, where the Allan Border Medal and Belinda Clarke Award will be awarded to this season’s best men’s and women’s player, respectively.
Throughout the week, fans can tune into 7plus for on-demand cricket content, including:
- Minis: Fans can tune into bite-sized clips including the biggest and best moments of matches across all forms of cricket on 7plus Sport.
- Highlights: Catch all major moments missed in a previous game with highlights on 7plus Sport.
- Full match replays: Find full replays of each of Seven’s broadcast matches across Test Series, WBBL, BBL, Women’s Internationals and the Women’s Ashes.
- The Spin: Every Thursday during the BBL season, Seven’s own Lisa Sthalekar, Brad Hodge and Jason Richardson take a deep dive into the wild word of Cricket, available live, free and on demand on 7plus Sport.
- The Grade Cricketer: Comedic duo The Grade Cricketer are back on 7plus Sport, joined by some of the sport’s biggest names.
- Stumped: Hosted by Seven’s team of commentators, the cricket quiz that is so bad it’s good returns to 7plus Sport for the 2024-25 Summer of Cricket.
- Stars TV: Stars TV takes you inside one of the BBL’s greatest clubs, the Melbourne Stars, with behind-the-scenes access to some of the biggest names and rising stars of world cricket. Episodes available to stream every Wednesday on 7plus Sport.
- Renegades Recruit: Cricketers from across Victoria come together to compete for a unique high-performance opportunity with the Renegades Academy. The winner of the show receives a unique opportunity to develop their cricket with the Renegades.
- 7Cricket FAST Channel: Viewers can head to the brand new 7Cricket FAST Channel on 7plus Sport for all the best interviews, features, extended edits and archival content from the Seven cricket team.
Ricky, being very biased!