Cricket Australia and state associations unveiled the eight new city-based Big Bash League teams, including their names and colours. The shift from state teams to city franchises was designed to create stronger local rivalries and a more entertainment-focused summer competition.
Cricket Australia formally launched the KFC T20 Big Bash League in Sydney, presenting the new teams and positioning the league as a major summer event. This launch set the stage for Australia’s move into fully franchise-based professional T20 cricket.
The first Big Bash League season (BBL|01) began, replacing the state-based KFC Twenty20 Big Bash competition. With eight franchises and a prime-time summer schedule, the league marked a clear step toward professionalizing domestic T20 as a standalone product.
Sydney Sixers won the inaugural Big Bash League championship by defeating Perth Scorchers in the final at Perth. The first title helped validate the new franchise model and gave the league an immediate competitive storyline to build on.
Brisbane Heat won the 2012–13 title by beating Perth Scorchers in the final at the WACA Ground. Early seasons like this showed the league’s ability to produce new winners and broaden fan interest beyond the biggest markets.
The 2013–14 season was the first to be broadcast on free-to-air television by Network Ten. Wider access helped make the league more visible nationally and strengthened its role as a mass-market summer sports product.
Perth Scorchers won the 2013–14 championship by defeating Hobart Hurricanes in the final in Perth. The result helped establish the Scorchers as a long-term powerhouse and a central part of the league’s emerging identity.
Perth Scorchers secured back-to-back titles with a last-ball victory over Sydney Sixers in the 2014–15 final. Close finishes like this became part of the BBL’s entertainment appeal and helped reinforce strong team rivalries.
Cricket Australia confirmed the creation of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), with eight teams aligned to the men’s franchises. This decision extended the BBL brand into women’s cricket and supported a clearer professional pathway for female players.
The first WBBL season began, running alongside the men’s league brand and team identities. While described as semi-professional at launch, it strengthened the overall “Big Bash” ecosystem by pairing men’s and women’s T20 products under one structure.
Perth Scorchers won their third championship by defeating Sydney Sixers in the 2016–17 final at the WACA Ground. The Scorchers’ sustained success showed how strong recruiting, coaching, and local support could translate into consistent performance in the franchise era.
Adelaide Strikers won their maiden BBL title by beating Hobart Hurricanes in the 2017–18 final at Adelaide Oval. A new champion signaled that the league’s competitive balance could still produce fresh winners as the competition matured.
The 2018–19 season was the first under a new rights deal featuring free-to-air coverage on Seven Network and expanded subscription coverage through Fox Cricket. This change reflected a more commercial, multi-platform approach to distributing the league.
Melbourne Renegades won their first championship by defeating Melbourne Stars in the 2018–19 final. A first-time winner from a major market helped demonstrate the value of the two-team city model used in Melbourne and Sydney.
In the 2019–20 season, the BBL replaced the simple semi-final/final structure with a five-match playoffs series (including Qualifier, Eliminator, Knockout, Challenger, and Final). The change was meant to increase high-stakes games, reward top teams with a second chance, and create more broadcast-ready events.
Sydney Sixers won the 2019–20 championship, finishing a nine-season stretch that began with their inaugural 2011–12 title. By this point, the league had a stable franchise structure, expanded broadcast distribution, and a paired women’s competition—key markers of Australia’s T20 professionalization by 2020.
Big Bash League: Australia's T20 Professionalization (2011–2020)