What is it? In December 2011, a new era will be launched in Australian cricket. The Big Bash League will be an expanded domestic T20 competition to replace the existing KFC Twenty20 Big Bash. It will be the blockbuster sporting sensation of the summer. City-based rivalry The Big Bash will move from a state team competition to 'club' city-based league There will be eight teams with new team names and colours which will provide a clear point of difference from State cricket The two additional teams will be located in New South Wales and Victoria

Competition details

• A decision on where the two additional teams will play is expected be made by the CA Board in early February
• The BBL will initially be played in the December/January holiday season
• Matches will continue to feature international players but it’s the next generation of Australian stars that we’re most excited about watching
• The two Big Bash League finalists will qualify for the Champions League Twenty20 tournament – a competition for the world’s elite domestic T20 teams – as is the case at the moment with the current KFC Twenty20 Big Bash

Which teams will players represent?

• No decision has been made on how players will be signed by teams but Cricket Australia wants teams to be evenly balanced and competitive from Season 1

Why change?

• The BBL will give fans more of what they want – more T20 matches and teams to support
• It will create rivalries not just between cities and states, but also within them in New South Wales and Victoria initially
• There’s room for further expansion in later years, so moving away from the state-based approach now is crucial to allow that to happen
• It will provide more opportunities for players in domestic T20. As we’ve seen this year, there’s amazing talent waiting for a chance – Nathan Lyon (Redbacks), Patrick Cummins and Sean Abbott (New South Wales) are just three who have been the finds of the summer
• KFC Twenty20 Big Bash attendance and TV viewers have increased enormously since the competition started in 2005-06 - we want to build on this and make it even bigger •We also want to make the BBL the must-watch. club-based sports league of the Australian summer.

The following positions are now available: