Follow UsThe Big Bash League (BBL)’s 2025-26 edition will kick off on December 14 with the Perth Scorchers, the hosts, taking on the Sydney Sixers, a team that former Pakistan captain Babar Azam will represent for the first time.
The match at the Perth Stadium will mark the start of the T20 fever in an already power-packed Australian summer of cricket, which will begin with the first Ashes Test on November 21 at the very same venue where BBL will begin its journey.
In all, the first 10 matches of the season will see eight stadiums playing host to BBL games with teams facing off at Perth, Geelong, Hobart, MCG, SCG, Gabba, Canberra, Olympic Stadium in Sydney and Adelaide.
Speaking on the occasion, Cricket Australia’s BBL General Manager, Alastair Dobson, said, “Obviously anything we do around an Ashes summer is huge, but to then have a good clear run of nights available from mid-December to the end of January where we can play the BBL every night is one that adds up to a pretty strong season for us.”
“With the Ashes to finish in the first week of January in Sydney, there's a strong possibility the likes of Steve Smith, Travis Head and other Test stars could close out the summer with their Big Bash clubs, including the finals campaign, something Dobson said "gives us confidence this will be as good as year as we've ever had,” he added.
The matches, starting December 14, will last till January 25 with matches every evening except on Christmas and Christmas Eve. There will be six double headers as well.