Uncertainty over the Big Bash League’s immediate future should ease – or deepen – on Monday when state chairs meet Cricket Australia (CA) in Melbourne to vote on a fresh privatisation plan. Victoria’s chair, Ross Hepburn, will miss the session as he is overseas, a small detail yet another reminder of how awkward the process has become.
Earlier this week state chief executives gathered with CA to go through the proposal line-by-line. By Thursday a final, written version of the so-called “hybrid” model landed in every inbox. In short, each state can decide for itself whether to explore selling a slice of its BBL club to private investors. It is CA’s second attempt at opening the competition to outside money; the first, which pushed for all eight clubs to sell simultaneously, was knocked back by New South Wales and Queensland in April. South Australia also baulked and floated the current opt-in approach.
Much of the recent tension stems from Victoria’s public plan to merge the Stars and Renegades, then off-load one Melbourne licence before the new season. The timeline is well ahead of CA’s, but Victoria have already trademarked three possible names – Rangers, Blazers and Magic – for a combined outfit. Whether they are cleared to press on rests on three fronts: Monday’s vote, the CA board’s blessing and a renegotiated pay deal with the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA). The ACA has been blunt: “privatisation cannot proceed without our agreement”.
Four affirmative votes will be enough to green-light the next phase, though CA would prefer any objectors to be softly reluctant rather than fiercely opposed. Should the motion pass, Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania – the only states currently keen to move quickly – will test the market alongside CA and its adviser, the Raine Group. The exercise mirrors the England and Wales Cricket Board’s approach when valuing Hundred franchises: confidential soundings, independent price guides, then serious negotiations. Victoria believe the whole thing can wrap up in months; others are sceptical.
No one inside Jolimont will spell out a firm timetable. Privately, administrators accept that broadcast partners need visibility, players need contract certainty and fans simply want to know who they will be cheering next summer.
With Hepburn abroad, another Cricket Victoria director will sit at the table on Monday. Even then, a final call is not guaranteed. In March the same group asked for more time to study CA’s initial blueprint, so another adjournment remains possible.
CA chief executive Todd Greenberg shows little appetite for further delay. Speaking at a CA conference this week he underlined the board’s stance, noting the game “has to keep evolving if we’re to remain competitive in a changing market”. Insiders say the mood inside head office is firm: a form of privatisation will happen, the only question is how many states climb aboard at the first stop.
As ever in Australian cricket, consensus is desired but never simple. Monday’s meeting will reveal whether the states can reach common ground – or if the BBL heads into another winter of boardroom wrangling.
