Cricket Australia "will extend the Big Bash League deeper into February next year in a clear message" to the Australian Football League -- "this is not your season," according to Sam Landsberger of the HERALD SUN. CA CEO James Sutherland said that it was "crucial that kids returned to school eager to play the summer sport and to ensure ground access." The AFL "has tried to swallow cricket’s spotlight" by scheduling the AFL Women's and then the AFLX competitions in February. But Sutherland said that his sport "would respond by untangling its overlapping schedule all the way from October until March." Sunderland: "From a competitor perspective, we’re very keen to make sure that it’s very clear it’s still cricket season in February. We’re very keen to ensure the Big Bash League season finishes with a bang and reaches a nice climax in mid-February, or even later." He added that the BBL would "take on a very different shape" after the school holidays. In February, the league will adopt an "AFL-style fixture" with doubleheaders staged from Friday-Sunday and days off during the week (HERALD SUN, 2/14).
