Yes, i was amazed how a team can win easily in the 1st Test (by 10 wickets) and then be beaten so comprehensively in the 2nd (by an innings).
Happy for Sri Lanka and its supporters in light of the economic turmoil there however. They don’t have much else going for them, so this gives them something to be happy about.
Ahead of the full reveal, which is expected to include several new venues, here’s what we know about BBL|12 so far:
Adelaide Strikers
The Strikers won’t have to wait long to try and avenge Hayden Kerr and Sydney Sixers for their thrilling final-ball loss in last season’s penultimate match, with Adelaide to open their season at against the BBL|11 runners-up at Adelaide Oval on December 14. The Strikers will also host Melbourne Stars in their traditional New Year’s Eve match at Adelaide Oval, starting at 6.30pm (ACDT).
Brisbane Heat
The Heat will host New Year’s Day action at home for the first time in three seasons with a blockbuster clash against the Sixers at the Gabba. The match will begin 6.15pm (AEST) meaning Heat fans will be well rested after seeing in 2023 the night before. It will be their first New Year’s Day match at the Gabba, with their previous home fixture in BBL|09 on the Gold Coast.
Hobart Hurricanes
The Hurricanes will host their traditional Christmas Eve fixture for the fifth year in a row when they take on the Melbourne Renegades at Blundstone Arena. They will also start and finish their home fixtures at University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston with mouth-watering match-ups against the Scorchers (December 19, 7.15pm) and Heat on the final day of the regular season (January 25, 1.40pm). They are also playing the Sydney Thunder on New Year’s Eve with an early match in Albury.
Melbourne Renegades
Nic Maddinson’s side, who yesterday announced they had secured the services of young top-order batter Mackenzie Harvey until the end of BBL|13, will host the other New Year’s Day fixture at Marvel Stadium against the Scorchers from 1.40pm. The match will mark Perth’s return to their home away from home last season after they played six games at the Docklands venue in BBL|11, including their 79-run drubbing of the Sixers in the decider to clinch their fourth Big Bash title.
Melbourne Stars
Who’s ready for Friday Night Lights at the MCG? The Stars will host two fixtures in the coveted slot both at family-friendly start times of 5.10pm (December 16) and 6.05pm (January 6) against the Hurricanes and Sixers. The Stars’ third Friday home fixture will be at the Junction Oval against the Scorchers on December 23 at 3.30pm. “It’s definitely part of our planning long term to have at least one game (per season) at the CitiPower Centre,” said Stars general manager Blair Crouch. “We were a bit unlucky last year that we got hit by COVID just before that New Year period, so numbers were down on perhaps what we had hoped … but those that were there had a fantastic time and it presented really well on TV.”
Sydney Sixers
For the first time in the club’s history, the Sixers will play a men’s fixture at historic North Sydney Oval – their WBBL team’s spiritual home ground – when they play against Brisbane Heat on January 4, the first day of the Pink Test at the SCG.
The Sixers will once again take a match to Coffs Harbour on the state’s mid-north coast, while their remaining five home games will be played at the SCG.
Sydney Thunder
The Thunder will kick off the BBL action on New Year’s Eve when they host the first ever competitive men’s match at Albury’s Lavington Sports Ground, against the Hobart Hurricanes. The ground has previously hosted WBBL games and pre-season BBL matches between the Thunder and Stars in 2016 and 2017 and also hosted an ODI World Cup match in 1992 where Zimbabwe beat England by nine runs.
The Thunder will also play four home games at Sydney Showground Stadium, including the Sydney Smash against the Sixers on January 8 and a clash with the Scorchers on January 13. The Trevor Bayliss-coached Thunder were the only team to defeat the BBL|11 champions twice last season. The club will also play two matches at Manuka Oval in Canberra this season.
“We’re excited to be expanding Thunder Nation to a new community that has shown strong support for the Club over the years,” said Sydney Thunder boss Andrew Gilchrist. “We have a history of playing trial matches in Albury – the Border Bash – and, as a club, Sydney Thunder is excited to take our team, fans, and sponsors to this community.”
Following South Africa’s forfeiture of the January ODI series against Australia, the new schedule looks like this:
2022-23 Australian home international schedule (all times local)
Men’s Dettol ODI Series v Zimbabwe
Sunday Aug 28: Riverway Stadium, Townsville, 9:40am
Wednesday Aug 31: Riverway Stadium, Townsville, 9:40am
Saturday Sep 3: Riverway Stadium, Townsville, 9:40am
Men’s Dettol ODI Series v New Zealand
Tuesday, Sep 6: Cazaly Stadium, Cairns, 2:20pm
Thursday, Sep 8: Cazaly Stadium, Cairns, 2:20pm
Sunday Sep 11: Cazaly Stadium, Cairns, 2:20pm
Men’s Dettol T20I Series v West Indies
Wednesday Oct 5: Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast, 6:10pm
Friday Oct 7: The Gabba, Brisbane, 6:10pm
Men’s Dettol T20I Series v England
Sunday Oct 9: Perth Stadium, TBC
Wednesday Oct 12: Manuka Oval, Canberra 6:40pm
Friday Oct 14: Manuka Oval, Canberra 6:40pm
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
Oct 16-21: Group stage
Oct 22-Nov 6: Super 12 stage
Wed-Thurs Nov 9-10: Semi-finals, SCG & Adelaide Oval
Sunday Nov 13: final, MCG, 7pm
Men’s Dettol ODI Series v England
Thursday Nov 17: Adelaide Oval, 1:50pm
Saturday Nov 19: SCG, 2:20pm
Tuesday Nov 22: MCG, 2:20pm
Men’s Vodafone Test Series v West Indies
Nov 30 – Dec 4: First Test, Perth Stadium, 10:20am
Dec 8-12: Second Test, Adelaide Oval, 2:30pm
Men’s Vodafone Test Series v South Africa
Dec 17-21: First Test, the Gabba, 10:20am
Dec 26-30: Second Test, MCG, 10:30am
Jan 4-8: Third Test, SCG, 10:30am
Women’s CommBank ODI Series v Pakistan
Monday Jan 16: Allan Border Field, Brisbane 10:05am
Wednesday Jan 18: Allan Border Field, Brisbane 10:05am
Saturday Jan 21: North Sydney Oval, 10:05am
Women’s CommBank T20I Series v Pakistan
Tuesday Jan 24: North Sydney Oval, 1:45pm
Thursday Jan 26: Blundstone Arena, Hobart, 7:05pm
Sunday Jan 29: Manuka Oval, Canberra, 1:45pm
FULL BBL|12 FIXTURE
Tuesday, December 13, 2022 Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Stars 7.15PM Manuka Oval
Wednesday, December 14, 2022 Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Sixers 7.15PM Adelaide Oval
Thursday, December 15, 2022 Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Renegades 7.15PM Cazalys Stadium (Cairns)
Friday, December 16, 2022 Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes 5.05PM MCG
Friday, December 16, 2022 Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers 8.15PM Sydney Showground Stadium
Saturday, December 17, 2022 Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Sixers 7.05PM Optus Stadium
Sunday, December 18, 2022 Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Thunder 7.15PM Marvel Stadium
Monday, December 19, 2022 Hobart Hurricanes vs Perth Scorchers 7.15PM University of Tasmania Stadium
Tuesday, December 20, 2022 Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Thunder 7.15PM Adelaide Oval
Wednesday, December 21, 2022 Melbourne Renegades vs Brisbane Heat 7.15PM GMHBA Stadium
Thursday, December 22, 2022 Sydney Sixers vs Hobart Hurricanes 7.15PM SCG
Friday, December 23, 2022 Melbourne Stars vs Perth Scorchers 3.30PM CitiPower Centre
Friday, December 23, 2022 Brisbane Heat vs Adelaide Strikers 3.30PM 7.00PM Gabba
Saturday, December 24, 2022 Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Renegades 3.30PM Blundstone Arena
Monday, December 26, 2022 Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Stars 6.05PM SCG
Monday, December 26, 2022 Perth Scorchers vs Adelaide Strikers 9.15PM Optus Stadium
Tuesday, December 27, 2022 Sydney Thunder vs Brisbane Heat 7.15PM Sydney Showground Stadium
Wednesday, December 28, 2022 Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Renegades 7.15PM SCG
Thursday, December 29, 2022 Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder 6.05PM Metricon Stadium
Thursday, December 29, 2022 Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Stars 9.15PM Optus Stadium
Friday, December 30, 2022 Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Sixers 6.30PM GMHBA Stadium
Saturday, December 31, 2022 Sydney Thunder vs Hobart Hurricanes 3.30PM Lavington Sports Ground (Albury)
Saturday, December 31, 2022 Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars 7.00PM Adelaide Oval
Sunday, January 1, 2023 Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers 1.40PM Marvel Stadium
Sunday, January 1, 2023 Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixers 7.15PM Gabba
Monday, January 2, 2023 Hobart Hurricanes vs Adelaide Strikers 7.15PM Blundstone Arena
Tuesday, January 3, 2023 Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades 7.15PM MCG
Wednesday, January 4, 2023 Sydney Sixers vs Brisbane Heat 6.05PM North Sydney Oval
Wednesday, January 4, 2023 Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Thunder 9.15PM Optus Stadium
Thursday, January 5, 2023 Adelaide Strikers vs Hobart Hurricanes 7.15PM Adelaide Oval
Friday, January 6, 2023 Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Sixers 6.30PM MCG
Saturday, January 7, 2023 Melbourne Renegades vs Hobart Hurricanes 6.05PM Marvel Stadium
Saturday, January 7, 2023 Perth Scorchers vs Brisbane Heat 9.15PM Optus Stadium
Sunday, January 8, 2023 Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers 7.15PM Sydney Showground Stadium
Monday, January 9, 2023 Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Stars 7.15PM Blundstone Arena
Tuesday, January 10, 2023 Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Renegades 7.40PM Adelaide Oval
Wednesday, January 11, 2023 Brisbane Heat vs Perth Scorchers 7.40PM Gabba
Thursday, January 12, 2023 Melbourne Stars vs Adelaide Strikers 7.15PM MCG
Friday, January 13, 2023 Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers 6.30PM Sydney Showground Stadium
Saturday, January 14, 2023 Adelaide Strikers vs Brisbane Heat 4.00PM Adelaide Oval
Saturday, January 14, 2023 Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars 7.30PM Marvel Stadium
Sunday, January 15, 2023 Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder 1.40PM Blundstone Arena
Sunday, January 15, 2023 Sydney Sixers vs Perth Scorchers 7.15PM SCG
Monday, January 16, 2023 Melbourne Stars vs Brisbane Heat 7.15PM MCG
Tuesday, January 17, 2023 Sydney Sixers vs Adelaide Strikers 7.15PM C.ex Coffs International Stadium
Wednesday, January 18, 2023 Perth Scorchers vs Hobart Hurricanes 7.40PM Optus Stadium
Thursday, January 19, 2023 Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Renegades 7.15PM Manuka Oval
Friday, January 20, 2023 Adelaide Strikers vs Perth Scorchers 4.30PM Adelaide Oval
Friday, January 20, 2023 Brisbane Heat vs Hobart Hurricanes 8.00PM Gabba
Saturday, January 21, 2023 Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunder 7.05PM SCG
Sunday, January 22, 2023 Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Stars 1.40PM Gabba
Sunday, January 22, 2023 Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Renegades 7.15PM Optus Stadium
Monday, January 23, 2023 Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Sixers 7.15PM Blundstone Arena
Tuesday, January 24, 2023 Melbourne Renegades vs Adelaide Strikers 7.15PM Marvel Stadium
Wednesday, January 25, 2023 Hobart Hurricanes vs Brisbane Heat 1.40PM University of Tasmania Stadium
Wednesday, January 25, 2023 Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder 7.15PM MCG
Friday, January 27, 2023 The Eliminator
Saturday, January 28, 2023 The Qualifier
Sunday, January 29, 2023 The Knockout
Thursday, February 2, 2023 The Challenger
Saturday, February 4, 2023 The Final
Every Saturday of the season is exclusive to Fox Cricket, as well as all but one Friday night game.
The season will take place across a whopping 17 different venues, including three new grounds; Lavington Sports Ground in Albury, Cazalys Stadium in Cairns, and North Sydney Oval.
I would prefer it if the Big Bash was limited to a few weeks around Christmas/New Year, in keeping with the theme of ‘silly season’. I get bored with it after a couple of weeks; most games have a thin veneer of excitement but are really pretty formulaic compared to a test match, with all its different variables and outcomes. Looking at it this way, test matches are much more exciting than your average T20 game.
I don’t think most people watch every game in any event; T20 captures more people overall though as it appeals to the casual fans. And therein is its secret sauce.
Good to see some new regional venues getting a guernsey; the glut of cricket argument doesn’t apply to them.
Agree entirely - everyone should play each other once not twice. In its early couple of seasons it was a great competition.
For more than a decade, St Columb’s Hawthorn has become a spiritual home for the players who take to its cricket pitch five days a week.
The church hall, which is more than 130 years old, ranks as one of the most unique venues in world cricket.
The St Columb’s Premier League has grown to a six-grade competition with 400-odd players. While everyone is welcome, nearly all are of South Asian background.
The current SPL season, which wraps up this month, will be the last to be played at St Columb’s.
The church’s parish has decided to evict the players, citing “many safety issues that needed to be addressed” with the building.
That’s pretty good considering very little of our cricket would air live into Indian prime time.
Yet…
I wouldn’t be surprised to see more day night tests, especially when India tour.
Cricket Australia’s broadcast deal with Disney Star India confirmed.
EDIT - Cricket Australia put up a media release this morning on the new Indian broadcast deal.
https://www.cricketaustralia.com.au/media/announcements/disney-star-announcement/2022-07-25
Australian women’s team won the T20 tri-series in Ireland after the final match between Ireland and Pakistan was washed out. Australia and Pakistan will now fly to Birmingham to prepare for the Commonwealth Games.
The International Cricket Council has also confirmed that the 2023 and 2025 World Test Championship finals will be held at Lord’s in London.
Sri Lanka Women have been dismissed for just 46 runs in just 17.1 overs at the Birmingham 2022 Games. SOuth Africa got the job done, beating them by 10 wickets with 13.5 overs to spare. The game was finished earlier. Their big problem is that Sri Lanka couldn’t score enough runs during today’s T20 match. Why is it so hard for Sri Lanka to win a T20 game at the Commonwealth Games? 
Meanwhile, Australia, India, ENgland and NZ have guaranteed themselves in the semi finals (thanks to Australia’s win over Pakistan last night. India also had a big win over Barbados) However, they will have to rely on today’s WT20I match between England and NZ.
England thrashed New Zealand by seven wickets in the final group game at the Commonwealth Games overnight, after restricting the White Ferns to 9/71 after 20 overs (they were 9/57 in the 15th over).
In Saturday’s semi-finals, England will host India while Australia will face New Zealand.
Australia women’s team have added Commonwealth Games gold to their World Cup ODI and Twenty20 titles, by beating India by nine runs in a dramatic final in Birmingham.
Both teams suffered late batting collapses towards the end of their innings (5 for 32 for Australia and 8 for 34 for India) but it was again Australia’s top order batting and bowlers Megan Schutt and Ash Gardner which were the main difference.
Australian all-rounder Tahlia McGrath tested positive to COVID earlier in the day, but was allowed to take part in the decider. McGrath only made two runs from four balls, and bowled two overs conceding 0/24. At other times, she wore a mask and sat alone in the change room, away from her teammates. She later appeared at the medal ceremony with her teammates, still wearing a mask, as shown in this photo:
New Zealand defeated England by eight wickets in the bronze medal match in the afternoon.