Longer season, more prime time games: CA announces BBL10 & WBBL06 fixtures

The sixth season of WBBL will feature a three-week hub in Sydney and won't be played in Melbourne until late November to add flexibility to the fixtures amid the ongoing challenges created by coronavirus pandemic.

Sydney: Cricket Australia on Wednesday released its fixture lists for the summer's BBL and Women's Big Bash League seasons. BBL will start early from December 3 and will stretch for more than two months and WBBL will be a stand-alone competition again.

• There's more important things in the world than cricket right now, but here's how we'd love to see the summer of BBL unfold. Stay safe and healthy everyone! #BBL10 pic.twitter.com/yE3tKuAEGp

  — KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) July 15, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  There's more important things in the world than cricket right now, but here's how we'd love to see the summer of BBL unfold. Stay safe and healthy everyone! #BBL10 pic.twitter.com/yE3tKuAEGp

  — KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) July 15, 2020

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  There's more important things in the world than cricket right now, but here's how we'd love to see the summer of BBL unfold. Stay safe and healthy everyone! #BBL10 pic.twitter.com/yE3tKuAEGp

  — KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) July 15, 2020

The first game of WBBL will be played between Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Sixers on October 17 in Brisbane with a final on November 29.

Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Renegades will take on each other in the tournament opener at the Adelaide Oval. Interestingly, on the same day the much-talked-about India vs Australia series is slated to kick-start. The ninth season of BBL had started on December 17.

• Here's the #WBBL06 fixture as it currently stands. pic.twitter.com/HvwfDZ3zds

  — Rebel Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) July 15, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  Here's the #WBBL06 fixture as it currently stands. pic.twitter.com/HvwfDZ3zds

  — Rebel Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) July 15, 2020

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  Here's the #WBBL06 fixture as it currently stands. pic.twitter.com/HvwfDZ3zds

  — Rebel Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) July 15, 2020

It must be noted that the sixth season of WBBL will feature a three-week hub in Sydney and won't be played in Melbourne until late November to add flexibility to the fixtures amid the ongoing challenges created by coronavirus pandemic.

"The League is pleased to have delivered a fixture that includes matches in each club's home market while also reducing the overall travel burden on clubs," said Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia Head of Big Bash Leagues in an official statement.

"By focusing parts of the competition in a central location (Sydney), it also provides optionality should the COVID-19 situation affect the flow of the season and we remain vigilant in all aspects of our planning to provide a safe environment for players and staff," he added.

The games in Sydney will be played across three venues- North Sydney Oval, Blacktown International Sports Park, and Hurstville Oval. The showpiece event final will be played on November 29.

"As with all sporting competitions around the world, we must remain vigilant and agile in responding to the COVID-19 situation as it develops and we will continue to work with all relevant federal and state government agencies, biosecurity experts, venues, clubs, players, broadcast partners, and our own internal teams to ensure a safe and successful summer," said Dobson.