Cricket Victoria has lodged a trademark application for the name Melbourne Rangers with IP Australia, the federal body that administers intellectual property rights, according to a report by The Age’s Andrew Wu — marking the clearest signal yet of the direction the governing body intends to take with its restructured Big Bash League franchise following the merger of the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades, as previously reported by cricexec. The filing was made on June 4 and is currently awaiting examination, with a response from IP Australia expected by early September.
The Rangers name is a deliberate nod to Victoria’s cricketing heritage. The state’s men’s team carried the Bushrangers identity for over two decades before it was retired in 2018, and while a full revival of that name was considered, Cricket Victoria ultimately held back — in part due to concerns about how it would translate to the Women’s Big Bash League context. The rebranded club is expected to play in Victoria’s navy blue, giving the new entity a state-wide identity built to appeal beyond either existing fanbase.
Two further names in contention
The name Rangers is not the only option under consideration. The Age also reported that Magic and Blazers have been registered with IP Australia and will be presented to Cricket Australia for approval. Magic carries its own Melbourne sporting history — the South East Melbourne Magic competed in the NBL between 1992 and 1998, formed from a merger of the Eastside Spectres and Southern Melbourne Saints. Cricket Australia declined to comment on the trademark filings. The applications cover a broad commercial footprint including playing kit, protective equipment, branded merchandise, digital content, and downloadable software.
Research drives the rebrand decision
Cricket Victoria’s push for a clean break from both existing identities is underpinned by its own internal research. The findings pointed to a meaningful gap between retaining one of the current names and building something entirely new — with supporters of the Stars and Renegades considered unlikely to rally behind the other club’s brand, but more open to backing a fresh Victoria-centric identity. Under the restructure, Cricket Victoria will operate the merged club in-house while putting the second licence up for sale, with IPL-linked investment groups widely considered the most likely buyers, as previously reported by cricexec.
Approval remains the central obstacle
Despite the trademark filings, the road to a confirmed rebrand runs through several layers of governance. Cricket Victoria requires sign-off from both Cricket Australia’s board and the Australian Cricketers’ Association before the licence sale can proceed. A senior state cricket figure outside Victoria, speaking anonymously to The Age, expressed scepticism that the plan would pass those hurdles — suggesting the Stars and Renegades may yet suit up for BBL16 as originally constituted. A caretaker scenario also remains live, under which the Renegades could continue operating through the 2026-27 season if no buyer is secured ahead of the Women’s Big Bash League’s October start.
June 15 shapes as the defining moment
The privatisation debate that brought Cricket Victoria to this point has exposed deep divisions across the federation. Cricket Australia’s original proposal to take the entire competition into private ownership was derailed after New South Wales and Queensland rejected it, with South Australia adopting a middle position. The revised approach gives individual states the latitude to pursue their own paths — which is precisely the opening Cricket Victoria has moved to exploit. State Chief Executives are due to meet this week, ahead of a Chairs’ vote on June 15 that will determine whether the framework for private investment advances. That outcome will decide whether Melbourne Rangers moves from a trademark filing to the name on the front of a jersey.
