Big Bash teams ‘set to merge’ as two new Melbourne sides loom in sell-off stunner

Melbourne’s two Big Bash League teams are set to merge, as part of Cricket Australia’s major revamp of the T20 competition.

SEN’s Tom Morris reports the Stars and Renegades will be combined into one team run by Cricket Victoria, with staff informed on Tuesday.

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Code Sports’ Daniel Cherny reported last week the Bushrangers has been considered as a new name.

Cricket Victoria runs both teams, but the state is reportedly committed to selling its second licence entirely (not just a partial sale), with that team expected to be bought by investors linked to the IPL and renamed.

Previous reports had suggested the Renegades would be sold and play games across the MCG, GMHBA Stadium, the Junction Oval and Chennai, India.

Cherny compared the new situation to that of the A-League’s two Melbourne sides Victory (locally-owned) and City (foreign-owned).

He reported on Tuesday night the Stars and Renegades’ playing lists will “effectively remain the same for the time being” and the merger was primarily an administrative one.

Cricket Australia’s attempt to privatise the BBL, with investors to enter the league for the 2027-28 season, was put on hold in April when Queensland joined New South Wales in rejecting the plan.

But the organisation remains keen on a partial privatisation model, allowing states to make their own decisions, and this move by Victoria would follow that plan.

“NSW and Queensland are certainly not supportive of private capital. NSW have an alternative model to self-fund it. Queensland don’t have an alternative model. But they don’t believe private capital is something for them,” CA boss Todd Greenberg said at the time.

“South Australia are in a hybrid situation where they would like the ability for some states to take the opportunity to bring private capital in, and for some states to come in later at their choice.

“Then three other states, Victoria, WA and Tasmania who are very strong and very supportive at the opportunity to bring private capital into their states.

“So if you’re sitting in my shoes, with a federated model and six members, that’s why it’s difficult.”

Privatisation would inject cash in the short-term and potentially see BBL sides linked to counterparts in other international T20 competitions, at the risk of losing control of the teams and any future profits in the long-term.

The Renegades won the 2018-19 championship while the Stars famously are the only team to have never won a BBL title, finishing as runner-up three times.