Photo Credit: Brisbane Heat
The Brisbane Heat will aim to transform from road warriors to hometown heroes in the revamped KFC Big Bash League in 2023-24.
After a rollercoaster season that saw the Heat surge from fifth spot to the BBL Final, only to lose a thrilling decider in the final over against the Perth Scorchers in Perth, the club will look to make Queensland its fortress once again in BBL|13.
Cricket Australia today announced that the upcoming BBL summer would revert from a 61-game competition to a compact 44-game season, with each club having five home games as a result.
The reduction of BBL matches (40 regular season matches plus 4 finals) is a key feature in Cricket Australia’s extended seven-year broadcast deal with the Foxtel Group and Seven West Media.
A new four-match finals series will feature the top four Clubs, with the finals structure to be confirmed.
The changes have been confirmed 12 months in advance and will apply for all future seasons.
No changes have been made to the Weber WBBL schedule, with the world’s best players set to compete across 59 matches (56 regular season matches plus 3 finals) in WBBL|09, which will also feature the introduction of an international player draft to align with the BBL.
Full fixtures, including start and end dates for both the BBL and WBBL will be confirmed in due course.
The change means that for the Heat, they will remain the only club to qualify for the Final from fifth spot in a season that saw the team play the greatest number of BBL games (18) in a single BBL season and win three knock-out finals in a row.
The Heat won four of their five Gabba matches last season, while narrowly losing matches at Cazalys Stadium in Cairns and at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast.
From 9am Monday, a week-long retention window will commence for the first time. Clubs will be able to re-sign up to 12 BBL and 10 WBBL players from their previous season’s primary lists, excluding overseas and local replacement players.
The BBL and WBBL Contracting Embargo Period’s will lift the following Monday, 22 May, with the Trade Period also commencing.
In another first, Clubs will be able to trade Draft picks in any of the four rounds of the Overseas Player Drafts. Each club will be required to have at least one selection in each round of the Drafts.
The WBBL Brisbane Heat were semi-finalists, losing to eventual champions Adelaide Strikers in the Challenger preliminary final.
Brisbane Heat CEO Terry Svenson said the club was excited about the coming WBBL and BBL seasons.
“There are some exciting things planned for the summer and we’re upbeat about the prospects of the Heat in both competitions,’’ he said.
“The WBBL Heat had a sold out game at Allan Border Field last season and we had our biggest crowds in three seasons for our home BBL matches across the board, including a fantastic New Year’s Bash game at the Gabba.
“We’re working hard on our preparations and look forward to delivering more outstanding experiences for our fans this summer,” Svenson said.
Key Dates
WBBL/BBL Retention window: 15-22 May
WBBL Contracting Window Start Date/Embargo Period Lifting: 22 May
BBL Contracting Window Start Date/Embargo Period Lifting: 22 May
WBBL Trade Period: 22 May–12 October
BBL Trade Period: 22 May–30 November
Last summer featured a number of high points for the club.
The KFC BBL Final between eventual champions Perth and Brisbane was the most-watched game of the season and most-watched BBL game since the BBL|10 Final.
It was the most-viewed BBL game ever on FOX and attracted a national TV average of nearly 1.4 million viewers across FOX, Channel Seven and streaming.
Fans continued to be entertained and inspired through the club’s digital media presence with the Heat retaining their mantle as the most followed sports club in Oceania.
Name of Author: Brisbane Heat
The Brisbane Heat are an Australian professional cricket team competing in the Big Bash League (BBL), representing both men’s and women’s cricket. Based in Brisbane, Queensland, the Heat succeeded the Queensland Bulls, who played in the former KFC Twenty20 Big Bash. The team wears a teal uniform and plays at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, known as The Gabba.
