Big Bash League 2017/18: Schedule and Fixtures have been announced and this time it’s going to be bigger than ever.
The glitz, the glamour, the cheerleaders and the after-match parties in domestic T20 leagues have taken the world by storm and while it all started a decade ago with the inception of Indian Premier League, its Australian counterpart, Big Bash League too made its mark, years later and as BBL enters into its 7th season, the organisers are leaving no stone time untuned to make it bigger and better than ever.
Big Bash League 2017/18 Schedule and Fixtures are here and this time eight more matches have been added to the T20 extravaganza, making Big Bash League 2017/18 a 43-games and 47-days event.
Each of the franchise will play 10 matches this season, which are split evenly between home and away games. Earlier, every team played four home matches. However, while the increase in the number of matches is a natural progression for this wildly popular league, but it does nothing in favor of lessening the load on players who have long been complaining of an over-crowded summer schedule.
As Big Bash League organizers flagged in January, some of the matches will be played in new venues and The Hobart Hurricanes will host the Sydney Thunder in Launceston on December 30 in the first confirmed match away from a traditional venue. However, there remains one home match for each of Melbourne Renegades, Sydney Thunder and Adelaide Strikers yet to be confirmed, which has raised the possibility of up to three more Big Bash matches being played in regional centers in Big Bash League 2017/18.
Here is the Big Bash League 2017/18: Schedule and Fixtures
Big Bash League 2017/18 will begin on December 19 with a Sydney Smash game between the Thunder and Sixers and the tournament will finish on February 4.
With the Big Bash League 2017/18, schedule and fixtures of the Women’s Big Bash League’s 3rd edition was also announced and while the first match of WBBL will be played on 9th December, the final is scheduled on the same day as that of BBL.
While the tickets will go on sale from 16th October, the prices for entry-level tickets remain unchanged for the Big Bash League 2017/18 as the prices start from $20 for adults, $5 for kids, and $42.50 for families for the seventh straight season.
Big Bash League vs Indian Premier League
With eight more games being added to the Big Bash League 2017/18, the Australian T20 league seems to gain on its Indian counterpart, Indian Premier League. However, when it comes to popularity, IPL stands 6th on the list of most followed leagues in the world while despite being three years younger, Big Bash League stands on No.9.
When quality of cricket is taken into consideration, despite having more runs, wickets, boundaries, and sixes per match, Indian Premier League stands second to Big Bash League. This is due to the fact that while IPL bowlers give extras at an average of 10 runs /match, Big Bash League bowlers give extras at an average of just 5.28 runs/match. Moreover, IPL is hosted on flat pitches and smaller grounds when compared to its Australian counterpart.
From this figure, it is clear that Big Bash League players are leaving no stone unturned to lead the pack with example and as a result, BBL provides good quality cricket.
If this continues for a couple of more years, Big Bash League will definitely equal the popularity of Indian Premier League, if not exceed it.