Aussie batsman Shaun Marsh and TV journo wife Rebecca welcomed their first child into the world on Friday night.

It will be the first time a standalone women's sporting match has been shown in prime time on a commercial free-to-air television network's main channel.

The women's Big Bash League is expected to get a major boost when broadcasting details and fixtures for this summer's campaign are unveiled on Tuesday.

A Big Bash League bidding war has broken out over West Indies' World Twenty20 hero Carlos Brathwaite.

Chris Gayle has taken aim in his autobiography at Chris Rogers, Ian Chappell and Andrew Flintoff, and opened up about his controversial sideline interview last summer with Mel McLaughlin.

The Melbourne Renegades are yet to sign a stadium deal for their home games next season.

A revamp of home international scheduling will see Brisbane lose the first Test and pink-ball matches played against South Africa and Pakistan.

No one said being captain of the Australian cricket side was easy and at just 23, Meg Lanning is also part of a major push to make it the sport of choice for girls.

Michael Clarke is eager to play in next summer's Big Bash League and has approached the Sydney Sixers.

Rights to the Big Bash League are tipped to be fiercely contested when cricket begins negotiations with networks but speculation of an early venture into the market has been doused.

Michael Clarke has reignited his career by declaring he will turn out for his beloved grade club Western Suburbs, but his movements thereafter are far from set in stone as Big Bash clubs - including the Melbourne Stars - come to terms with his sudden change of heart.

Sydney Thunder allrounder Erin Osborne not expecting T20 World Cup call-up despite WBBL final heroics.

Convince David Warner to return to Big Bash League cricket? Lure Mitchell Johnson out of retirement? These are the questions the eight Big Bash League franchises face when the contract window for next summer's competition opens on Wednesday.

Young star on the rise, British passport, spending his winters in England? You've heard this story before. But Chris Green is not Steve Smith.

The polarising batsman claims to be in career best form and vows to "score runs and help the youngsters" if he is brought in from his international exile for the T20 World Cup in March.

Sydney Thunder's triumphant Women's Big Bash League skipper Alex Blackwell said her team's spin bowler Erin Osborne made a late push for selection in the Australia T20 World Cup side with her brilliant performance in the domestic T20 final on Sunday.

Fresh off helping the Sydney Thunder claim its inaugural Big Bash League title, Cricket ACT director of coaching Aiden Blizzard has called for the champions to bring a game to Canberra next season.

Triumphant Sydney Thunder captain Mike Hussey admitted that even though he always planned to take his team to a Big Bash League title he cannot believe the dream came true on Sunday night.

After adding a Big Bash League winner's medal to his collection of titles, Jacques Kallis said he was still to decide upon his future with the Sydney Thunder.

 The inaugural WBBL final between Sydney's the Sixers and Thunder lived up to its promise of a hard-fought battle between two teams that knew each other's games intimately with the Thunder winning the title at the MCG in a heart-stopper.

Stephen Fleming says he was satisfied with Melbourne Stars' performance in the Big Bash final, and bullish about future success.

Sydney Thunder's man of the moment Usman Khawaja maintained the rage, and the run spree by guiding his team to a three wicket victory over the Melbourne Stars at the MCG.

Usman Khawaja has played down the pair of contentious LBW appeals he survived during his man-of-the-match innings in Sydney Thunder's Big Bash League final win over the Melbourne Stars.

The Big Bash League final was in the balance. Dave Hussey had just claimed the catch which brought his brother to the crease, with Sydney Thunder 2-94 in the 11th over chasing 177 to win.

Kevin Pietersen masterclass trumped by one from Usman Khawaja, as Sydney Thunder complete stunning rise from Big Bash chumps to champions.

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Season five of the Big Bash League comes down to this - the Stars and the Thunder going head to head at the MCG.

The failures of the top-placed teams in finals across all five seasons of the Big Bash League is unlikely to trigger a change in structure to create a second chance for these teams.

Brisbane Heat batsman Chris Lynn has been named as the Big Bash League's player of the tournament.

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Live coverage as the Sydney Thunder square off against city rivals the Sixers in the inaugural WBBL final at the MCG.

Playing the role of selector when it comes to naming the all-star team from the fifth edition of the Big Bash League isn't an easy task, as Daniel Lane discovered.

Sydney Thunder's strike bowler Clint McKay said he harboured no grudges against Sunday's Big Bash League final opponents, the Melbourne Stars, despite being released by them at the end of last season after he was barely given a go last summer.

Cricket ACT director of coaching Aiden Blizzard wants to bring lessons back from Sydney Thunder's resounding charge to the Big Bash final to help Canberra's next generation of cricket stars.

Somewhere in the MCG stands on Sunday there will be a kid at the cricket for the first time; a teenager, wowed by the colour, buzz and big hitting, finally giving the game a chance; or perhaps a mother joining her husband and sons to see for herself their fascination with the game.

For Melbourne Stars to win their first Big Bash League title, on Sunday night at the MCG, they will need to shackle not only the country's form batsman, Usman Khawaja, but three of this Sydney Thunder teammates who have nearly 50,000 international runs between them.

Erin Osborne will keep an eye out on Sunday for an opportunity to get even with her ACT Meteors teammate Sara McGlashan​.

Forget the upcoming Batman v Superman movie as the ultimate showdown between two superheroes because Sunday's WBBL final between the Thunder and Sixers at the MCG has the hallmarks of a battle between foes who know each other's strengths and weaknesses intimately.

Keith Miller, the World War II fighter pilot who was also Bradman's star all-rounder, once described pressure as 'having a Messerschmitt up your arse'.

Kevin Pietersen has joked his looming Big Bash League final opponent Usman Khawaja should immediately be called up for the national team.

In the vast stands, it was the spaces between the seats that told the tale. A crowd of just over 30,000 turned up, far fewer than the recent 80,000-plus for the Melbourne derby.

Melbourne Stars are finally on the cusp of living up to their lofty expectations, earning hosting rights for Sunday's Big Bash League final by ending the dominant run of Perth.

When the Sydney Sixers arrived in Melbourne on Thursday ahead of their semi-final match against the Hobart Hurricanes, they were buoyed by hearing the news that the Sydney Thunder - their arch rivals - had made their way through to the final.

Sydney Sixers WBBL coach Ben Sawyer said he'll do everything within his power to ensure veteran Lisa Sthalekar is a member of the team next season.

Sydneysiders had rare cause to compliment the Melbourne weather on Friday when rain held off long enough at the MCG for the Sydney Sixers to extend their astonishing Women's Big Bash League winning streak to nine to earn a berth in Sunday's final against Sydney Thunder.

"There's some really good talent out there at the moment. All I can do is keep doing well for my team, put my head down, score runs and hopefully the selectors will take note and choose me. If they don't, I love playing for the Thunder so it's a win-win situation.

Follow live coverage as the Melbourne Stars host Perth Scorchers. The winner earns a spot in the Big Bash League final.

Sydney Thunder opener Usman Khawaja hit a glorious unbeaten 104 to help the one-time basketcase of the BIg Bash into the final with victory over the Strikers.

The watershed season for women's cricket will end in fitting fashion, with six matches broadcast live on free-to-air TV in 11 days, as the end of the Women's Big Bash League meets the start of the Southern Stars series against India.

Little-known cricketer played a big part in helping the Melbourne Stars' win a semi-final berth, with hosting rights.

ACT Meteors spinner Angela Reakes says the Sydney Sixers can claim the WBBL title.

Sydney Thunder captain Alex Blackwell said she wants to play against cross-town rivals, the Sixers, in the WBBL's inaugural grand final after the Thunder won their way through to the decider with an eight run win over the Perth Scorchers.

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Live coverage of the first semi-final in the 2015-2016 BBL season. Adelaide Strikers are hosting Sydney Thunder.

If bad weather helps Melbourne Stars overcome their semi-final hoodoo against Perth you will not hear Scorchers coach Justin Langer whingeing about that.

Sydney Sixers WBBL coach Ben Sawyer credited a positive energy that stemmed from his players having nothing to lose for their being on the verge of a grand final berth.

Perth Scorchers spinner Brad Hogg admits the upcoming BBL finals series could make or break his wish to extend his Twenty20 career.

English superstar Kevin Pietersen has signed a new two-year contract with the Melbourne Stars that will tie him to the MCG-based Big Bash League outfit until the end of the 2017-18 season.

New Zealand international Henry Nicholls has been a member of the Sydney Thunder for only a week, but on the eve of the team's historic semi-final appearance against the Adelaide Strikers he spoke of the need for the Big Bash League's one-time battlers to perform on the big stage with the passion expected of his skipper Michael Hussey and foundation player, Usman Khawaja.

Jono Dean is primed set off his own fireworks in the Big Bash League semi-finals on Thursday night.

Chris Gayle has launched a stinging attack on critics and the media in a long-winded rant on Instagram in which he takes aim at "past and present" cricketers he claims failed to support him in the aftermath of his infamous post-inning interview.

Melbourne Renegades will pore over every aspect of their eight matches in a bid to understand why they have again missed the finals. But even before that is completed their key flaw is glaring: strike-bowlers.

There will be no imminent decision on whether Chris Gayle, Melbourne Renegades and, most significantly, Cricket Australia are all amenable to the peerless hitter reprising his position in next season's Big Bash League.

Michael Hussey has won a World Cup and been part of an Ashes whitewash but he would rate success in the Big Bash League with Sydney Thunder as being up there with those achievements.

Two years after attracting a paltry crowd to a home Big Bash League semi-final, Melbourne Stars are confident Friday night's attendance at the MCG will be notable for the right reasons.

The player used most by Australia to plug the gaping spin void left by Shane Warne until Nathan Lyon's emergence, has quietly ended his 15-year playing career.

Anthony Everard is hoping this week shows just how big the Big Bash League has become in its breakthrough season, when the Melbourne-Perth final goes head-to-head against the Australian Open tennis just across the road.

Chris Gayle signed off his Big Bash League season, and perhaps his Australian career, in devastating fashion by blasting a half-century at world-record pace on Monday night.

Cameron White hopes Chris Gayle will rejoin him at Melbourne Renegades next season after his bludgeoning half-century on Monday night gave his team a chance to pinch a Big Bash League semi-final berth.

Canberra fast bowler Jason Behrendorff's dreams of playing at Twenty 20 World Cup are over.

Yuvraj Singh has some company at the top of the list for fastest ever half-centurions in Twenty20 cricket.

So-called "pitchsiders" are continuing to infiltrate Big Bash matches by sneaking laptops and mobile phones into grounds.

The in-form Brisbane Heat batsman wants to take his chance on the big stage as he continues to chase his dream of playing Test cricket.

They say blood, sweat, and tears are the best way to reach the top. But for Perth Scorchers paceman Andrew Tye, it also took a whole lot of vomit.

Steve Waugh has compared the International Cricket Council's apparent lack of action to drag the West Indies out of their downward spiral to the scenario of rugby allowing the "All Blacks to wither on the vine."

To make the semi-finals, the Renegades need to win by at least 38 runs or, if they chase, within 16 overs.

It was a sight that would have made cricket traditionalists cringe: former Australian Test captain Steve Waugh teaching young players the nuances of the reverse sweep.

Shaun Tait typically avoids answering phone calls from unfamiliar numbers. He is unsure why he deviated from that policy, but is relieved he did given what was conveyed: a shock return to the Australian team, just in time to audition for the World Twenty20

Australian selectors have rewarded good form in the Big Bash League, with maiden call-ups for Travis Head and Andrew Tye and recalls for Chris Lynn, Nathan Lyon and Shaun Tait for next week's three Twenty20s against India.

Sydney Sixers general manager Dom Remond says further discussions need to take place with the SCG Trust to ensure public demand for tickets is not compromised by some members who do not fill seats at Big Bash matches.

New Zealand international Sara McGlashan has propelled the Sydney Sixers into the Women's Big Bash League finals courtesy of a thrilling last-ball strike.

Melbourne Renegades are hopeful Monday night's must-win match against Adelaide is the platform for Chris Gayle to transform what has been a decent on-field contribution from him into a dominant one.

Sydney Thunder players will have their eyes glued to the television screen on Monday evening in the hope the Adelaide Strikers account for the Melbourne Renegades otherwise their hopes of a maiden finals appearance could be dashed.

After four demoralising and soul-searching years, the Sydney Thunder have done everything they can to secure themselves a finals spot with a 46-run victory in front of a domestic record crowd.

The Melbourne Stars secured a home semi-final in dramatic fashion after thrashing the Perth Scorchers by 52 runs in Saturday night's BBL clash at the WACA Ground.

Nathan Bracken, regarded as one of one-day cricket's great 'death' bowlers, said the only way bowlers in the Big Bash League would survive their pressure-packed role is by "wanting" to do the job.

Follow the action as the Stars travel west to take on the Scorchers.

George Bailey's mighty form across the opening two one-dayers against India has strengthened his claims to earn a recall to the Twenty20 he used to captain for the World Twenty20 in March.

Australia's decision to rest two of their best young fast-bowlers, Josh Hazlewood and James Pattinson, has dented the hopes of Big Bash League finals aspirants who had been due to regain one of them.

The Sixers are trying to thrash out a deal with Cricket Australia that would allow each Big Bash League franchise to pair Australia's internationals with a like-for-like player.

Melbourne Stars' hopes of achieving the toughest task in the Big Bash League, winning at the WACA Ground on Saturday night, have been helped by Perth losing key fast-bowler Jason Behrendorff to injury.

While a record crowd is expected for the men's Big Bash derby at the SCG on Saturday, the women's fixture a few hours earlier will also go close to breaking the record for the highest domestic crowd for a female match.

Travis Head has suddenly emerged as one of the most coveted players at next month's IPL auction, with the 22-year-old no longer tied to his existing meagre deal with Delhi.

Should it come as a surprise that one of Australia's most driven cricketers, Michael Edward Killeen Hussey, will rise above the sentiment of possibly playing in his final game of cricket when the Sydney Thunder play the Sydney Sixers in a must-win game to instruct his players to give "100 percent" to each ball.

Chris Lynn insists he has no fear of facing spin in the subcontinent after blasting five consecutive sixes in the Big Bash League on Thursday night to make his World Twenty20 selection bid even more compelling.

As successful as the Big Bash League has been this season it still doesn't touch the television numbers drawn for Australia's home internationals.

It takes something extraordinary to upstage a batsman who clubs five consecutive sixes.

It's the mystery which set social media alight - just what did Adelaide Striker Greg West say to Hobart Hurricane Michael Hill on Wednesday night to annoy him so much?

The Adelaide Strikers will host the first Big Bash League semi-final on January 21, regardless of whether they finish first or second, Cricket Australia says.

Melbourne Stars captain Meg Lanning is comforted that despite the potential logjam for a Women's Big Bash League finals position that her team is not reliant on other results going their way to qualify.

Chief executive Cameron French looks to bring the Big Bash League, Tests and ODIs cyclically to Canberra.