Cricket Australia announces schedule for Big Bash League 2021-22

Cricket Australia (CA) on Wednesday announced the schedule for the 11th edition of the Big Bash League (BBL). The league will start on December 05, 2021, and the first match will be played out between Sydney Sixers and Melbourne Stars.

BBL head Alistair Dobson revealed that the 11th edition will have Decision Review System (DRS) in place. Apart from that, it will also look into shortening the duration of the match, which in the last three years or so has gone beyond the standard Australian time of 10 Pm. 

Also, the BBL officials are taking a cue from the Hundred competition which is set for its grand debut on July 21. With possible additions of few new rules and some old rules staying, the 11 edition of BBL sure promises to be bigger, exciting, and full of entertainment. 

Coming back to the schedule, the BBL will begin just three days before the Ashes sereis Down Under. The grand finale of BBL will take place on January 28. This year too the BBL has the presence of overseas star players, albeit a few missing due to national commitments.

📅 #BBL11 SCHEDULE 📅

A full home-and-away fixture, plus finals before the end of January. Summer holidays set ✅

DETAILS: https://t.co/ldXiuE4H0M pic.twitter.com/HjspFvyfZz

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) July 14, 2021

 Apart from few new rules proposed, the BBL officials also wanted an overseas player draft but had to postpone it due to the COVID-19 threat. But Dobson guarantees to make overseas draft happen in the coming few years. 

 “We really like the idea of an overseas player draft and it’s something that will be on the agenda again next year. But when we’ve considered the continuing challenges with overseas travel and the need to give players and clubs some certainty, we’ve made the call to postpone it for another year, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.