BBL to merge Melbourne franchises: Real reason behind CA's bold step to unify Stars, Renegades

Cricket Australia (CA) has decided to merge the two Melbourne-based teams in the Big Bash League, reports in Australian media stated on Tuesday. The development means that the Melbourne Stars and the Melbourne Renegades will become a single entity, changing the structure of the tournament drastically.

The Stars and the Renegades have been featuring in the BBL since the league's inception in 2011 but from this year onwards, the two will be combined into a single franchise from Victoria, which is the state where the city is located.

According to SEN Sports, Cricket Victoria staff were informed about the decision on Tuesday afternoon. The new team will retain Melbourne in its name with the nickname being thought upon by the board. Navy blue is expected to be the primary colour of this new team, different from the green of the Stars and the red of the Renegades.

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The proposal is yet to be officially implemented but the report states it is a done deal.

Real reason behind Stars-Renegades merger

It is no secret that CA has been trying its best to bring private investment into the BBL. The merger of the Stars and the Renegades can also be seen as a step in the same direction.

The report states that Cricket Victoria will sell its second BBL licence entirely. This means that a new team based in Victoria is likely to come up through private investment. It paves way for owners in other T20 leagues like the Indian Premier League or The Hundred to get a team in the Australian league as well.

Although a timeline for the sale has not yet been fixed, the report states that the Australian board wants it to happen as soon as possible. CA will meet in Melbourne to discuss the broader privatisation plans on June 15.

CA has tried to follow the footsteps of The Hundred to privatise the BBL but the plans have run into internal opposition. The Renegades and the Stars were both hugely popular teams with several key Australian stars like Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa featuring in their sides. The merger also means that the Stars will finish without a BBL title.