Sydney: The 2023-2024 edition of Australia’s Big Bash T20 League (BBL) will begin on December 7 this year with a new format and fixtures.
Cricket Australia announced the dates for the summer tournament after the decision to cut matches, narrowing the window.
The 44-game BBL 13 season featuring “40 home and away matches and a new-look four-game final” will culminate in a rare mid-week final.
In the new format, each team participating in the tournament will play 10 league matches before the top four teams qualify for the knockout stage, reports Fox Sports.
Earlier, the BBL Playoffs featured a total of five teams who played a total of five matches in the knockout stage.
The 13th season of the eight-franchise tournament kicks off with the Melbourne Stars hosting the Brisbane Heat at the Gabba, with six more matches scheduled before the December 14-18 break for Australia’s first Test against Pakistan in Perth.
Both Boxing Day and New Year’s Day will host double headers.
The four-match final series will lead to the decider on January 24 and the final will be played in midweek for only the second time.
“We are incredibly pleased and excited about the BBL fixtures this season,” said Alastair Dobson, BBL General Manager, announcing the 44-match series.
Perth will defend their title after defeating the Scorchers Heat to win an unprecedented fifth crown last season.
