Cross-code athletes Jess Cameron and Emma Kearney will be expected to fulfill their cricket engagements should the Australian Football League Women's season start on the same weekend as the Women's Big Bash League final, according to Jon Pierik of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The '17-18 fixture for the men's and women's Big Bash League was unveiled on Monday, as a heads of agreement in a new pay deal between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association was "on the verge of finally being confirmed." Host BBL broadcaster Channel Ten "spruiked its coverage of the summer," a sign the network intends to fulfill the final season of its contract "at a time when it remains in financial trouble." The semifinals of the BBL and WBBL will be held on Feb. 1 and 2, with the final on Feb. 4. The AFL said on Monday that it had not yet confirmed when the women would begin their second season but it is "expected to be on that same weekend." This year's AFLW season began with a sell-out between Collingwood and Carlton at Princes Park on Feb. 3. Under the new memorandum of understanding between CA and its players, female cricketers will reportedly "become part of an official pay deal for the first time." This means that CA "will expect dual-code players to put cricket before football" (SMH, 7/31).
CHRISTMAS CLASHES: In Melbourne, Russell Gould reported plans for a Christmas Day Big Bash event and a Christmas Eve match "remain on the table despite missing out as part of a beefed-up fixture for this summer." Franchises including the Sydney Thunder expressed interest in playing on Christmas Day, and while BBL Manager Anthony Everard said that the CA board "gave the go ahead to explore the option," it would not happen this year. Everard added, "We will continue to gauge the interest of clubs and explore new avenues for the competition." Key elements of this year's fixture include eight more regular season games, taking the total to 40. The Melbourne Stars will get to play five games at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (HERALD SUN, 7/31).
