A new cricexec poll of global cricket executives has delivered a decisive result on one of the sport’s most intriguing proposals. Asked whether the Big Bash League (BBL) should expand across the Tasman to include a New Zealand-based franchise, 80 percent said yes and just 20 percent said no — signalling strong industry appetite for a trans-Tasman future in T20 cricket.
The finding comes as Cricket Australia (CA) weighs the most comprehensive reform plan in the league’s history — one that could reshape the BBL into a more globally integrated competition, with expansion, privatisation and scheduling reform all on the table.
BBL looks beyond Australia
CA chief executive Todd Greenberg has made no secret of his ambition to future-proof the league. “We’ve certainly got an open mind to it,” Greenberg said on SENQ Breakfast. “We’re talking to all our state CEOs about how we best optimise the Big Bash and at the same time, secure the game’s long-term future. Expanding the competition and markets like New Zealand are top of mind.”
That comment echoed the recommendations of a Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report, which urged CA to consider reducing the season’s length, invite private investment and explore international markets such as New Zealand, Singapore and Canberra. “It would be remiss of us if we weren’t looking at these opportunities,” Greenberg added.
CA chair Mike Baird has been equally pragmatic: “No decisions have yet been made, but any action taken will be for the benefit of the BBL, WBBL, fans and Australian Cricket more broadly.”
New Zealand’s crossroads
For New Zealand Cricket (NZC), the idea of joining the BBL comes at a time of transition. CEO Scott Weenink confirmed that NZC has commissioned an independent assessment into the viability of entering a team:
“We’ve engaged an international expert to look at various options for our T20 product in New Zealand. Putting a team in the Big Bash is one of those options, but of course it depends on what Cricket Australia does with their process.”
Weenink stressed that the move would not be allowed to weaken New Zealand’s domestic structure:
“You could envisage a situation where you have a NZ-based team in the Big Bash, and the Major Associations have an ownership stake in that team. Players in the Super Smash would be playing for a place in that Big Bash side. We would be ensuring that our domestic game remains strong — that’s still the key driver.”
Support from Australia’s T20 insiders
The concept has been warmly received in sections of the Australian game. Greenberg’s openness reflects a broader recognition that the BBL must innovate to stay relevant amid competition from the IPL-owned SA20 and ILT20 leagues.
As one industry observer put it: “Every other sport across the Tasman — the NRL, NBL, Super Rugby, A-League — already has Kiwi teams. Why not cricket?”
Podcast hosts Sam Perry and Ian Higgins of The Grade Cricketer agree. “It would give it a sense of grandiosity, it would grow it,” Perry said. “There’s a good and friendly relationship between Australians and New Zealanders. In Australasian cricket, there’s a breaking point coming — Indian-backed leagues are expanding into our window. A Kiwi team could be part of the solution.”
The case for expansion: “The time’s right now”
Former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith believes the move is overdue.
“It can’t do the players any harm to be playing against this quality in a competition of that nature,” he said on Sport Nation. “That to me would be the best fast-tracking of players to get through to the international level. You look at the Warriors, the Phoenix — it’s great having NZ teams in Australian competitions, and I think the time’s right now.”
Smith argues that exposure to the high-pressure Big Bash environment could accelerate the development of New Zealand’s next generation. “Imagine the next best of the best in New Zealand — you pick them from around the provinces and say, ‘there’s your chance’. Under pressure, in front of big crowds, you’re going to grow up quickly.”
But not everyone convinced
Others remain wary. Former Blackcap Kyle Mills fears a New Zealand franchise would “completely weaken” the Super Smash.
“If you’ve got the Blackcaps on tour and a squad in the Big Bash, that’s almost half our domestic talent pool,” Mills warned. “So you’re going to run the Super Smash at the same time? The domestic game is the most important part of cricket.”
Current Blackcaps allrounder Daryl Mitchell has voiced similar concerns:
“I’d rather us invest in our own T20 comp. We’ve got amazing talent in this country — the more we can promote that, the better.”
Captain Mitchell Santner has also urged caution. “I’m sure there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge with that,” he said. “Would that mean we still have international cricket during that time? Would there be none? How would that look?”
Private investment and global positioning
Any trans-Tasman expansion would likely intersect with the BBL’s looming privatisation process, as CA explores partial sales of its teams to investors — including interest from India and the US. Analysts say the move could create a stronger commercial base to support an international footprint, higher player salaries, and improved scheduling flexibility.
“The success of the T20 format has been a huge boost for the game globally,” Greenberg said. “We need to ensure the Big Bash remains among the world’s top sporting competitions.”
Industry strategists also note that an Australasian model could help both nations retain talent at a time when global franchise leagues — from the IPL to Major League Cricket — are luring players with year-round contracts.
A trans-Tasman opportunity
The cricexec poll’s 80–20 split underscores how decisively the industry views this as a growth opportunity rather than a risk. While logistical challenges remain — scheduling, player availability, and balancing domestic competitions — the momentum is clear.
For New Zealand, a BBL franchise could provide a commercial bridge to the global T20 economy. For Australia, it could rejuvenate a league that risks plateauing in a saturated calendar.
Former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith summed up the prevailing mood perfectly:
“I’m very supportive now. In the past, I’ve wondered what Australia would get out of it. But if they’re into it, I think New Zealand should buy into it very soon. The sooner the better.”
If the poll is any indication, the cricket industry agrees — the Big Bash’s next big hit may come from across the Tasman.
