The Sydney Sixers exacted grand final revenge with a big win over the Thunder at Spotless Stadium.

The Thunder look to snap their losing streak as they welcome the Heat to Spotless Stadium.

The black bat is at best a game-changing innovation that brings more people into cricket and makes cricket more entertaining and at worst a ridiculous marketing tool, but could coloured bats could become as regular as coloured boots in rugby league?

The Sydney Sixers have won their second Big Bash game this season, proving too good for the Perth Scorchers.

The Sixers look to bounce back after their defeat to the Hobart Hurricanes on Friday night.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland says Canberra is on the cards for a Big Bash League franchise with expansion "a mere formality".

Sydney Thunder all-rounder Andre Russell will be allowed to use his infamous black bat again in the Big Bash League, but his captain Shane Watson is no fan.

Another sickening Big Bash head clash has left two of the women's league's brightest stars in agony on the cricket field.

Sydney Thunder all-rounder Andre Russell is free to use his black bat in the BBL after making modifications to stop damage to the ball.

Fresh off a confidence-building run chase in their opening match of the new Big Bash League season, the Melbourne Stars now have to find the right place for Kevin Pietersen in their in-form top order.

The Melbourne Stars have begun their Big Bash League campaign in outstanding fashion, the team's top three batsmen playing vital roles that enabled them to chase down a daunting target set by the Hobart Hurricanes.

An explosive knock from veteran left-hand batsman Rob Quiney has helped Melbourne Stars cruise to a seven-wicket victory in their first game of the BBL season in Hobart.

It takes something special to upstage Meg Lanning when she is on song, but Sophie Devine managed to do just that.

Nick Winter spends most of his days in Adelaide, but for two months he calls Melbourne home - all the while his family is in Canberra.

Jason Roy still pinches himself every time he walks out onto his new home ground, the Sydney Cricket Ground.

There are no comparisons between Hawthorn's recent premiership record and that of the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League, yet there is one common theme: the BBL outfit will be judged by what they do in their finals campaign this season.

Bowling slower hurt Mitchell Johnson on Friday night - but boy was it effective.

The Hobart Hurricanes proved far too good for the Sydney Sixers on Friday night at the SCG.

• Live

The Sydney Sixers opened their campaign with a win over Sydney Thunder. Can they make it 2-0 against the Tasmanian outfit?

Melbourne Stars captain David Hussey has backed teammate Marcus Stoinis to break into the Australian Test line-up sooner rather than later.

Brad Hogg's infectious smile and sunny disposition could add more than just sparkle to the Melbourne Renegades this Big Bash League season.

Melbourne Stars allrounder Evan Gulbis will return home to Australia to prepare for the BBL having been axed by his New Zealand Twenty20 team for a late night out before a match last weekend.

Embattled opener Aaron Finch found his groove with a swashbuckling half-century as the Melbourne Renegades downed the Sydney Thunder by 48 runs.

Australia's selectors have made some head-scratching selections, and the same can be said of the men who picked the International Cricket Council's Test team of the year.

It's the season-opener for the Melbourne Renegades at Etihad Stadium. Just a few days before Christmas, cricket fans have taken advantage of a beautiful Melbourne day to head to the cricket.

Among other things on his Christmas list, Sydney Sixers fast bowler Doug Bollinger wants a victory in his first home game of the Big Bash League against the Hobart Hurricanes come Friday.

There were fireworks during the Big Bash League clash at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday night, but not all of them were on the field.

Brisbane Heat recruit Alex Ross revealed he was the subject of some verbal barbs from his former Adelaide Strikers teammates before having the last laugh in his side's hard-fought 10-run BBL win at Adelaide Oval.

Ryan Gibson is fast emerging as one of the Sydney Thunder's key men in this season's Big Bash League.

Cameron French vows Canberra will be ready to set up a BBL franchise when expansion happens.

Melbourne Renegades captain Aaron Finch says James Pattinson is "a little bit flat" to be missing the season-opener on Thursday night.

Adelaide Oval has implemented significant new security measures to protect patrons from potential vehicle attacks in the wake of recent international terror incidents. 

• Live

Follow our live match tracker with stats and commentary as the Strikers host the heat in BBL06.

Players in season two of the Women's Big Bash League are hitting 45 per cent more sixes than they did a year ago – the result, they say, of better equipment and improved access to high-quality training.

• Live

Follow our live match tracker, with stats and commentary, as the two Sydney teams kick off the sixth edition of the Big Bash League.

The wooden spooners have taken down the reigning premiers in the Big Bash League opener.

Big-hitting Adelaide Strikers batsman Jono Dean has vowed to make the most of his opportunities in the Big Bash.

While one door closed for a Canberra quick, albeit temporarily, one opened for another promising young tearaway.

The BBL looms as Nick Winter's avenue to return to the first class frame.

Nic Maddinson must retain his place in the Australian Test team, says Sixers teammate Moises Henriques.

The Melbourne Stars have gone back to back against the Sydney Sixers in the WBBL, following up Saturday's win with a victory on Sunday at Casey Fields.

Dwayne Bravo just led his Dhaka Dynamites to a title, now he hopes to repeat the dose with the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash.

Star all-rounder Ellyse Perry has gone in to bat for Cricket Australia, saying it was setting the standard for supporting women athletes in Australia.

The Melbourne Stars comfortably beat the Sydney Sixers at Casey Fields on Saturday, further cementing their reputation as the team to beat this Women's Big Bash Season.

There have been times in the past couple of years that Xavier Doherty has asked himself, "Why are you still playing?"

In a year of shock victories, it ranked well up there with the best. The Sydney Thunder, the perennial cellar-dwellers in the Big Bash League, stunned the competition last season as they lifted the trophy for the first time in their history.

Peter Siddle is confident his back woes aren't a long-term concern and says a handful of games at the tail end of the upcoming Big Bash League season can propel him back into Australia's Test squad for the tour of India early next year.

Australian cricketers should get paid maternity leave and help with childcare while on tour, batter Grace Harris said on Friday.

Six years in, I still don't know if my instinctive fondness for the BBL proves that I am a renaissance man of catholic tastes and broad toleration, or a pea brain.

Cricket Australia says its controversial stance on pregnant women's players.

Many women in the Big Bash would love to play cricket full time, top players say, contrary to Cricket Australia's claims that they enjoyed balancing sport with other work.

Adam Zampa laughs about it now, but knows he is lucky.

Peter Siddle's return from his latest back flare-up has been delayed.

Cricket Australia believes the success of the Big Bash League is not dependent on the availability of Australian International players, meaning there's little chance the sport would attempt to prevent scheduling clashes that would ensure more appearances by ODI players.  

Veteran all-rounder Lisa Sthalekar is eyeing a Women's Big Bash League title before retirement.

Two Melbourne Stars cricketers have miraculously escaped unharmed after a nasty outfield clash-of-heads in Albury.

A superb all-round display from India's Harmanpreet Kaur played a huge part in defending champions Sydney Thunder's first WBBL win of the season in Albury on Tuesday.

Ellyse Perry is the star once again as the Sydney Sixers land their first WBBL win this season.

Melbourne Stars coach Stephen Fleming sees leadership potential in Glenn Maxwell and is looking forward to spending time with the mercurial all-rounder on the golf course.

Two Australian cricketers are likely to miss the entire Big Bash League through injury.

The female version of Chris Gayle was in scintillating form at North Sydney Oval on Sunday afternoon.

Young gun cricketer Sophie Molineux's teammates think she will play for Australia and it would be hard to question their judgment after her star turn in the Renegade's win over the Strikers on Sunday

The first prime-time Women's Big Bash League has been hailed a ratings success, as the fourth most popular program in Melbourne on Saturday night for viewers younger than 55.

West Indies star Stafanie Taylor says she'd be tempted by a potential move to the NSW Breakers.

The Big Bash League – having long ago reached mainstream status – is entering its sixth season.

Any total is defendable in Twenty20 cricket, as the Strikers showed the Renegades in North Sydney on Saturday.

Melbourne's Big Bash League clubs are both still chasing an elusive first title, but while that race can't be won until late January, another between the clubs looks likely to be decided before the year is out.

SYDNEY, Dec 9 AAP - She's being hailed as the Bradman of women's cricket and now Meg Lanning is promising yet more runs in what promises to be an explosive start to the WBBL on Saturday.

Sydney Thunder captain Alex Blackwell is going into the second season of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) expectant and excited to face off against cross-town rivals Sydney Sixers.

The second Women's Big Bash League will edge the sport a step closer to professionalism.

Melbourne Stars players Morna Nielson and Michael Beer exchanged tips on left-arm spin bowling before the start of the Big Bash league season.

With six teenagers in their squad, the Melbourne Renegades are doing things differently to their competitors.

The new season of women's Big Bash Cricket begins this weekend with six matches over two days at North Sydney Oval.

Cricket Australia has taken another step towards introducing a Big Bash League game on Christmas Day by creating a working group to fast-track the concept.

Allrounder Mitch Marsh admits his chances of a Test recall this summer are slim despite finding some form with Australia's one-day side.

Former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has turned down a chance to captain the Prime Minister's XI in what would have been "my last game".

At just 15, Annabel Sutherland will be part of a younger, new look Melbourne Renegades this WBBL season.

The MCG security fence – installed for Big Bash League and international cricket matches last summer – is not returning this season.

English all-rounder Natalie Sciver will to return to Australia for a second season of Big Bash cricket, joined by top New Zealand spin bowler Morna Nielson at the Southern Stars.

Perth Scorchers have been fined after they reported a breach of last season's Big Bash League salary cap.

The Melbourne Stars' men could learn about decision-making from its women when they go on pre-season camp together for the first time, coach Stephen Fleming said.

The multimillion-dollar business of cricket is evolving before our eyes, writes Michael Evans.

Australia's maligned international cricket schedule might be a blessing in disguise for Australia to turn around their Twenty20 fortunes, according to Brad Haddin.

Steve Smith has given Cricket Australia's new concussion substitute rule his tick of approval.

Canberra looms as a potential Big Bash League venue, with Cricket Australia in talks to extend the length of the booming competition.

To say it's a big week for Jess Cameron would be an understatement.

Media appearances and contract signings were something Katie Mack could never have dreamed of growing up playing cricket.

Highly talented but injury prone WA fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile looks set to again succumb to health problems ahead of the domestic summer.

A group of Canberra cricketers will vie for the chance to play the curtain-raiser to the Sydney Thunder's Big Bash League clash with the Adelaide Strikers on Sunday.

ACT bowler Erin Osborne is looking forward to leaving behind all of "the fun stuff you enjoy about winter".

You could forgive Weston Creek Molonglo fast bowler Joe Slater for struggling in his school exam on Friday.

Cricket ACT's Aiden Blizzard hopes someone will follow Mac Wright's footsteps this season.

More than half of international cricketers might choose the freedom to play T20 club cricket over a Test contract, a survey indicates.

Michael Clarke will make a call within weeks on whether to pursue a stint in the Big Bash League this summer.

The Big Bash League's worst kept secret has finally been confirmed, with Mitchell Johnson officially signing with the Perth Scorchers for this summer's competition.

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Aiden Blizzard has signed a new one-year contract with last season's BBL winners, Sydney Thunder. 

Victorian great and former Australian batsman Dean Jones has expressed interest in becoming the new coach of the Melbourne Renegades.

Australian fast bowling great Mitchell Johnson will play for the Perth Scorchers in next summer's popular Big Bash Twenty20 league.