Cricket Australia to consider Big Bash opener in India

Cricket Australia is considering staging the first Big Bash game of next season not in Sydney, Melbourne or even Auckland. But in India.

The bold ambition is part of a wider strategy to intertwine the lucrative Indian market with the BBL ahead of a near-certain sale for at least two of its eight franchises.

SEN Cricket understands two senior Cricket Australia staffers travelled to India recently to investigate the possibility of a regular season BBL game being played, ideally in Chennai.

Head of business operations Phil Rigby and head of competition development and strategy Margot Harley flew to India as discussions ramp up around the logistics of an offshore game.

While no BBL clubs have been formally briefed, the Perth Scorchers appear a logical choice to play in India given their time zone and an openness from WACA officials to consider offers from wealthy Indian business figures.

Other clubs are aware of Cricket Australia’s desire to stage the season-opener in India.

However a deal is far from complete, given approval would need to be granted from various stakeholders, including broadcasters and the BCCI.

As Cricket Australia leans into the Indian market, there is a view among key figures that an annual game in Chennai could boost the sport in the same way rugby league has ventured to Las Vegas in recent times.

Also among considerations at Jolimont headquarters is Christmas Day cricket later this year.

The idea has long been discussed but never implemented across the 15 seasons of the tournament, even though the agreement between the players and the governing body now allows for derbies to be staged on the night of December 25.

Cricket Australia wants to save these derbies for their own dates but hasn’t given up on its ambition to have a match on Christmas night next summer.

The goal posts have shifted in Melbourne, with the soon-to-be-floodlit St Kilda Cricket Ground (Junction Oval) seen as a suitable venue for Christmas evening cricket.

Though the ground’s capacity is no more than 10,000, the match would be a TV broadcast winner.

Cricket Australia is open to the possibility of providing inducements for players to take part, including extra match payments and/or private flights to and from home.

The Melbourne Renegades would host the match, with the Hobart Hurricanes the most recent club discussed as a possible opponent.

Any Christmas night cricket between interstate opponents would require approval from the players.