Melbourne’s two Big Bash outfits are about to become one. Cricket Victoria (CV) told staff on Tuesday that the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades administrations will merge before the 2026-27 summer, with the playing arms of both the men’s BBL and women’s WBBL operating under a single, yet-to-be-named brand.
Key points first
• One Victorian franchise will wear new colours – likely the state’s traditional navy – and continue to call the MCG home.
• CV will put its second Big Bash licence (currently the Renegades) on the market as soon as Cricket Australia (CA) signs off on the long-mooted move to partial privatisation, expected to be rubber-stamped by state chairs in mid-June.
• If a buyer is not in place, the Renegades will run under a caretaker board in 2026-27 before passing to private hands.
“Consolidating resources makes sense in the current climate,” a senior CV official wrote in an internal email seen by this publication. “But we remain committed to maintaining two elite pathways for Victorian players once the sale process is complete.”
What happens to the Stars name?
The Stars moniker – along with the familiar green kit – will disappear. Players currently contracted to the Stars will remain with the new composite side for the coming season. James Rosengarten, Renegades general manager, shifts across to head the combined operation. The existing Renegades player lists, meanwhile, stay intact for 2026-27 but will sit under Max Abbott’s temporary stewardship until ownership changes hands.
Cameron White is in situ as men’s coach for the Renegades licence, yet the women’s role is vacant after Simon Helmot’s move to the ILT20. Coaching structures for both teams are still being hammered out. “We’re working through that detail quickly,” Rosengarten confirmed in a brief phone call. “Players want clarity well before pre-season starts.”
Timeline on a sale
CA’s board will examine the next phase of its hybrid-ownership model this month. Should approval arrive, CV hopes to complete due diligence and run a bidding process inside eight weeks. Industry sources believe overseas investors will be courted, mirroring Yorkshire’s decision to divest its Hundred team to the IPL-backed Sun Group. In that deal the county relinquished all operational control; a similar clean break is envisaged here.
“What we’re offering is a turnkey club – brand, list, commercial rights,” an adviser close to the talks said. “That level of certainty tends to attract serious capital quickly.”
Why merge first, sell later?
Running two fully staffed organisations while courting buyers is costly. Merging back-office roles now – marketing, membership, high-performance – frees cash and spares CV an awkward hand-over down the track. It also simplifies scheduling: the new Victorian side will anchor prime-time MCG slots, while the second licence, once sold, can negotiate its own venue deals. Docklands Stadium remains a logical base, but nothing is locked in.
Impact on players
From a contractual standpoint little changes in the short term. Current agreements roll on, and the salary-cap (known in Big Bash circles as the total player payment, or TPP) still applies. Draft mechanisms for overseas players stay untouched. The bigger unknown is cultural: two fan bases, two histories, one jumper. CV insists consultation is under way with members’ groups. “Legacy matters,” the internal memo read, “but the game must evolve.”
Reaction in the dressing room has been muted publicly. One senior player, speaking anonymously because he had not yet digested the full implications, said: “You always want clarity. As long as contracts are honoured and we get a fair crack on the park, we’ll roll with it.”
Next steps
1. CA meeting mid-June – privatisation framework likely approved.
2. CV opens formal sale process immediately thereafter.
3. If a deal closes before October, new owners take charge for the 2026-27 WBBL start; if not, the caretaker model kicks in for one season.
Looking further ahead
The Big Bash launched with eight state-aligned, publicly run clubs in 2011-12. The expected sell-down marks a shift towards the Indian Premier League model of privately owned franchises. Advocates argue inflows of capital will lift player salaries and infrastructure; critics worry about disconnecting clubs from their grassroots.
Either way, Victoria is now the test case. Two brands enter, one emerges, and another sits on the auction block – a tidy solution on paper, but one that will need skilful handling to keep supporters, players and commercial partners on side. As Rosengarten put it, “There’s no perfect blueprint. We just have to get on with the job.”
