Vics reveal big changes to the Melbourne Big Bash teams

Both Big Bash clubs will remain based in Melbourne as CA prepares to discuss revised privatization model with states

Cricket Victoria will rebrand the Melbourne Stars and plan to sell the license for the Renegades franchise entirely if Cricket Australia goes ahead with a phased privatization of Big Bash clubs.

Both licenses remain based in Melbourne for the WBBL and BBL. While CV moves forward with plans to rebrand the team in which it plans to retain a controlling interest, the second license will continue to operate as the Renegades until the sale is completed.

CA will meet with states over the next two weeks to discuss an alternative blended investment model after NSW and Queensland rejected an earlier proposal involving the sale of shares in all eight clubs.

It is understood that the revised private investment model would include an opt-in approach to continue testing the market and securing valuations for the interested franchises.

Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania have previously expressed support for allowing private investment in the Big Bash Leagues, while South Australia has been in favor of a ‘hybrid’ model. Negotiations with the Australian Cricketers’ Association, the players’ union, would also have to be completed before private investment can take place.

CV continues to plan its proposal ahead of a decision to approve private investment in the Big Bash, with the board greenlighting the sale of 100 percent of the license to operate the Renegades.

Subject to agreement from CA and the five remaining state boards, Victoria would also sell a minority stake in the license for the renamed W/BBL club.

CA said in a statement: “We are aware of Cricket Victoria’s intentions, which would still mean there are two teams in Melbourne.

“There is still a lot of work to be done and nothing has been decided or approved yet.”

Under CV’s plan, the franchise in which they would retain a controlling interest would be rebranded as a ‘Melbourne’ team ahead of the upcoming WBBL and BBL seasons and operate from their Junction Oval base, with the men’s home matches being played at the MCG.

The new team would be renamed – a return to the ‘Bushrangers’ moniker has been announced – and get a new playing kit, likely moving to navy blue and white, in line with Victoria’s traditional state colours.

The Renegades brand would still be used by the license for sale in the WBBL and BBL leagues ahead of a possible sale. The franchise will be managed by an interim administration until a sale is secured on CV’s proposal.

The two clubs’ contracted players will remain the same for now, with these players being informed of the proposed shake-up of the Melbourne clubs last night.

The Renegades currently have nine men’s and six women’s players signed for next season, including captains Sophie Molineux and Will Sutherland, while the soon-to-be-renamed Stars have 10 men and seven women locked up for 2026-27, including superstars Meg Lanning, Annabel Sutherland, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis.

Adam Zampa, Scott Boland and Tayla Vlaeminck are among the biggest names without contracts at either club.

Discussions are also underway about the Renegades’ home base for KFC BBL|16 after their contract with Marvel Stadium expired at the end of last season.

CV employees were informed of the plans on Tuesday afternoon.

In a statement, CV confirmed it would begin preparations for an expressions of interest phase with a view to selling a 100 percent stake in one of its two licenses if an agreement is reached between CA and the states this month.

CV CEO Nick Cummins said they had undertaken a focus group consultation with members as part of the process.

“The Stars and Renegades fans said they wouldn’t support the other team, but they would support a team playing under the Victorian flag,” he said on SEN radio on Wednesday morning.

“There will be another team from Melbourne, so there will still be a derby.

“When we sell one of our licenses, one of the key things we’re going to look at is… the buyer of that team, how can they bring the derby to life and attract the biggest crowd possible (and) inspire parts of Melbourne that might not be involved in the Big Bash at the moment.”

Cummins added a name for the rebranded Melbourne team that was still a work in progress, but the Bushrangers – a previous name for the Victorian men’s side from 1995 to 2018 – were “fairly gender specific”.

“Unlike when the Bushrangers existed previously, we now have both a WBBL team and a BBL team, so we are taking that into account,” Cummins said.

CA CEO Todd Greenberg said in April, as previous plans stalled, that the governing body would not shy away from finding an acceptable model to welcome private investment in the Big Bash, the only major domestic T20 tournament that has no private investment.

“Option A for us has always been… that we do it at the same time to get the maximum value out of the market,” Greenberg said at the time.

“But it’s clear we’re not at that point yet, so we now have to reassess what comes next.

“We just started analyzing what a different model might look like, and is there a model where some states use private capital and some states don’t?

“We would need to conduct in-depth analysis to understand the impact on Australian cricket.

“Because in order to do this, it has to benefit the entire sport, and we have to look at that lens in the decisions we make.”