There’s less than two months to go until Big Bash season is upon us and we can't wait for what will be the biggest summer of cricket ever! Our squads are close to finalised, the fixture is locked in and tickets are on sale - so now our focus turns to ensuring we leave no stone unturned in delivering memorable experiences for our members and fans.
SQUAD UPDATES
We’re really pleased with the balance and quality we’ve been able to secure across both the WBBL and BBL lists.
On the BBL side, our focus was adding genuine pace and top-order firepower. We’re delighted to welcome back Haris Rauf, one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket, who brings energy and excitement every time he’s in Stars colours. At Silver, we secured Joe Clarke - a two-time Stars Player of the Year. Tom Curran also returns in the second year of his two-season commitment, giving us proven versatility with both bat and ball.
We did explore the option for Ravi Ashwin when he became available. It’s fantastic to see this door open for retired Indian players to come to the BBL but for us it would have been difficult to balance the team to have a spinner replace either a Clarke, Curran or Rauf in the starting XI.
In the WBBL, we’ve strengthened our line-up with one of the form batters in the global game, Amy Jones. Amy is a superb player of spin and a highly skilled wicket-keeper. To complement her, we were keen to add more power-hitting options, and Dani Gibson fits that profile perfectly with her ability to clear the boundary. Alongside them, Marizanne Kapp — one of the world’s premier all-rounders — returns as our pre-selected overseas signing.
Closer to home, our Victorian-based players have been training together as a Stars unit during the pre-season in collaboration with Cricket Victoria. This new initiative has allowed the squad to connect and build combinations earlier than usual, and it’s been fantastic to see the energy within the group already starting to take shape.
FAN AND MEMBER EXPERIENCE
Away from the field, our team has been working hard to ensure this season is an unforgettable one for our members and fans. Memberships are tracking strongly, with several categories already showing significant growth year-on-year, and we’re thrilled to see so many of you locking in your spot for the summer ahead. We thank everyone who has joined for their support and encourage anyone thinking of becoming a member to get in touch with our friendly team.
We are always looking to make enhancements to the match-day experience. This year, we are elevating the concourse outside the MCG with more interactive, family-friendly activations. Inside the MCG, we will have more live entertainment and new lighting tools in our kitbag. Our aim is to make every game an event in its own right, so whether you’re a long-time Stars supporter or joining us for the very first time, it's a great night out.
Community remains central to what we do, and over the past few months we’ve been out and about across Victoria - running clinics, visiting schools and engaging with clubs. Our August Regional Roadshow saw us visit 48 schools in country areas that got bats in the hands of over 2000 students. It's humbling to see that the passion for the game so strong and we are actively looking at ways to make it easier for our fans in the regions to get to fixtures in Melbourne.
SPONSORSHIP
It’s been fantastic to announce the renewals of Dodo and Intrepid Travel, meaning they will again both feature on our playing shirts this season. We thank them for their support of the Stars.
Both brands are just as committed as we are to providing great experiences, and we encourage members to keep an eye out for special offers from our partners throughout the year. It’s a great way to support them and also make some great savings.
WHAT'S NEXT
The T20 Spring Challenge gets underway on October 21 and our WBBL Stars Academy team will be heading to Sydney to play in that tournament. We are pleased that England international Dani Gibson will be arriving in Australia early to play in the Spring Challenge, along with Meg Lanning. This will not only be a great lead-in to the WBBL for them but also be a great experience for our younger players to learn from two of the world’s best.
Stay tuned for announcements regarding this year's Melbourne Derby matches, we have some exciting initiatives and entertainment offerings in the works!
We will also be revealing our fresh New Balance kits for the season on October 9!
I’m always happy to hear from our members so if you have any feedback or suggestions to make, my email address is mabbott@melbournestars.com.au.
Go Stars!