Christmas Day cricket not on the agenda as BBL releases fixture

The BBL’s attitude to Christmas Day cricket is “never say never” but demand to play on the biggest public holiday of the year isn’t there.

Cricket has toyed with the idea of playing on Christmas Day since the BBL started in 2011, even introducing Christmas Eve games in 2019.

But they were scrapped in 2023, indicating a move into December 25 is unlikely in the near future.

The NBL has played games on Christmas Day since 2022, but remains the only Australian sporting competition to do so.

“Never say never,” BBL boss Alistair Dobson said, after announcing the fixture for the 2025-26 competition.

“It’s one of the ones where each year, when we sit down to lay out how the season might look.

“Ultimately, the interest and the demand from our key stakeholders probably isn’t there right now, whether that’s broadcasters or clubs, to push into that particular day.

“It’s not something that we need to put in there from a fixturing perspective, so it wasn’t on the agenda for this year.”

The upcoming BBL will begin at Perth’s Optus Stadium on December 14 when the Scorchers host the Sydney Sixers.

Reigning champions Hobart’s first match will be at home two nights later in a rematch of last season’s final against the Sydney Thunder.

The BBL final will be held on January 25, meaning there again will be no cricket played on Australia Day.

Last season proved to be a serious return to form for the BBL, backed up by increased crowds and TV ratings.

Dobson believes the BBL has the length – 40 matches – spot on.

“The momentum we’ve had both from an attendance and TV perspective the last couple of seasons, suggests that was the right move,” Dobson said of the reduction in games three seasons ago.

“The fans and our players and our broadcasters are all supporting that.”

Dobson believes it’s the “season we’ve been waiting for”, with the BBL to start during the Ashes, while Australian stars could play significant roles for franchises at the back end of the tournament.

International players are likely to use the BBL as a runway into the T20 World Cup, to be played in Sri Lanka and India in February.

“It’s fair to say we earmarked this season from a while back,” Dobson said.

“All those things in the mix … so I’m convinced this is as good a year as we’ve had almost ever.”