Two Melbourne Big Bash League franchises will merge ahead of the 2026-27 season under a new privatisation model taking effect in 2027-28.
The merger of the Melbourne Stars and Renegades administrations for both the Women’s Big Bash League and Big Bash League will begin next season. Staff at Cricket Victoria’s headquarters were briefed on Tuesday about the administrative consolidation.
Players received individual calls about the merger, though some learned of it through media reports first due to their global locations.
Home fixtures for the combined team will still take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The Cricket Victoria board will decide on the new nickname, aiming for a unified Victorian identity from the 2026-27 season onwards.
The Stars’ name and current colour scheme will disappear, replaced by an as-yet-unnamed side wearing Victoria’s official navy blue state colours. Home fixtures for this combined team will still take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The Cricket Victoria board will decide on the new nickname, aiming for a unified Victorian identity for the 2026-27 season onwards.
James Rosengarten, the Renegades’ current general manager, will oversee operations of the merged squad. All existing Stars players under Women’s and Big Bash League contracts will stay with the team for the 2026-27 season.
Cameron White remains the Renegades’ coach, while the women’s coaching structure is unresolved after Simon Helmot left to join Gulf Giants in the ILT20 competition.
If a complete sale cannot be completed before the 2026-27 season, the Renegades will continue playing under their original name and colours with their current squad but under temporary management.
Max Abbott, the Stars’ current general manager, would lead this caretaker administration. The temporary arrangement would only be necessary if the franchise sale process extends beyond the September start of the Women’s Big Bash League season.
The privatisation model’s next phase requires approval from Cricket Australia at a state chairs meeting scheduled for mid-June.
Once endorsed, the entire privatisation process could wrap up within two months, allowing new owners to take control before the next season begins if Cricket Australia grants approval.
The selling of the full Renegades licence would follow the model used when Yorkshire sold its Hundred franchise to the Sun Group in England, severing all formal ties with the new owners.
After testing market interest and securing Cricket Australia’s approval, a formal bidding process will open for the Renegades’ existing franchise licence.
The highest bidder will acquire full ownership and operational control, gaining the ability to rebrand the club similarly to how Sun Group renamed Northern Superchargers to Sunrisers Leeds.