An expanded Big Bash League will run longer than the Indian Premier League and "well beyond its previous popular school holiday slot," according to the AAP. However, Cricket Australia denied it "risks overkill" after announcing the '18-19 season schedule, which features "16 more games and a full home-and-away season for the first time." A mid-February finish will see the eighth season of BBL extend beyond the school holiday timeslot and "even go head-to-head with Test cricket," while running 13 days longer than it did last season. In all, the "vastly expanded BBL season will feature 59 matches" -- up from 43 last season -- across 61 days, with the first ball bowled at the Gabba on Dec. 19. BBL CEO Kim McConnie said that "consolidating a full home-and-away fixture over the next three years was the only focus." McConnie: "We really are a baby in the scheme of things and full home-and-away isn’t too big; I think it’s actually what fans expect and want to see. They also want to see the BBL go to new places." McConnie said that "family-friendly timeslots" -- most of the games will begin at 7pm this season -- "would aid attendance in February once school holidays had finished" (AAP, 7/19).
