Australia’s Test Stars Could Join BBL Late This Season
Australia’s top Test cricketers will get a special two-week break after the Ashes series. This means they could finally play in the Big Bash League (BBL) during the last part of the 2025–26 season. The season starts on December 14 and ends on January 25. Cricket Australia hopes this will make the BBL one of the most exciting seasons yet. The fifth Ashes Test finishes on January 8, so some players might be free for the final regular games and the playoffs. Batters are more likely to play, but some bowlers and all-rounders might join too, especially to get ready for the T20 World Cup in February.
BBL boss Alistair Dobson said this season has a great setup. Every team gets a home game in the last week, which gives Test players a chance to play in front of their local fans. Some well-known stars like Nathan Lyon might finally play after years without a match. But others, like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Travis Head, aren’t signed yet. Each player’s return will depend on how they feel after the Ashes. The BBL won’t shift its schedule just to fit in more stars or overseas players, and it still won’t have games on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or Australia Day. Even though a Christmas Day game is still talked about, it won’t happen this year.
