Big Bash back bigger and better

A New Year's Day blockbuster between the Melbourne Stars and Renegades at the MCG is among the key KFC Big Bash League showdowns unveiled in today's release of the BBL|06 fixture.

Last year's Melbourne derby at the MCG attracted a record crowd of 80,883 and the match-up could be even bigger this summer, with the teams to meet on the evening of Sunday January 1.

Quick Single: View the full BBL|06 fixture

Download: BBL|06 fixture PDF

Despite some speculation, there will be no Big Bash games played on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, with Cricket Australia opting to stick with a proven formula that has seen the competition become Australia's best-rating sports competition.

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The season will again get underway with reigning champions Thunder hosting the Sixers at Spotless Stadium on Tuesday December 20 in the Sydney Smash, with the season to culminate in the Big Final on Saturday January 28, to be hosted by the highest qualifying team.

The now traditional New Year's Eve fixture will return to the Adelaide Oval, with the Strikers hosting the Sixers, while the Melbourne Derbies will again be played across the first two weekends in January.

The Stars and Thunder will meet in a replay of last year's final at Spotless Stadium on Wednesday January 4.

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The schedule will also feature four prime-time double-headers, but in a change from recent seasons, the Boxing Day action will take place at Blundstone Arena instead of the WACA as the Hurricanes meet the Stars.

The WACA will instead host the second match of the New Year's Day double-header when the Scorchers play the Thunder.

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There will be 14 double-headers with the Women's Big Bash League – up from 10 last summer – including the blockbuster New Year's Eve match in Adelaide and the Melbourne derby at the MCG on January 1.

"We operate on a 'one club, two teams' mentality with the men's and women's Big Bash Leagues to give fans greater options with this integrated schedule," Cricket Australia's Executive General Manager Operations Mike McKenna said.

"The KFC Big Bash League has become a family favourite during the summer school holidays and the way the public embraced the Women's Big Bash League last year shows there is strong demand that this schedule is designed to grow.

"There will be 14 double-headers for the BBL and WBBL to stand side-by-side, while still giving the two leagues spotlight to shine equally on their own stage.

"Every BBL match will again be broadcast after averaging more than a million viewers every match last season, complementing the additional one million people who came through the gates in BBL|05.

"We are spending the off-season looking at more innovative ways to build on the league's strengths and enhancing our fans' experiences in the fun, fast-paced atmosphere of every match. As part of our commitment to value for families, entry-level ticket prices will remain unchanged for the sixth straight season."

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Network Ten's BBL coverage – which won the Logie Award for 'Most Outstanding Sports Coverage' last month – has become a regular feature of Australian summers and all matches will again be broadcast live across the country.

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Boasting a national average audience of 1.1 million viewers on Network Ten, the BBL has soared above the Australian Football League and National Rugby League, which average 804,000 and 887,600 per match on free-to-air television respectively.

Sydney Thunder's triumph over Melbourne Stars in the BBL final claimed the highest ratings for BBL|05, with 1.79 million tuning in to see Mike Hussey's men claim their first title.

"We are delighted to be broadcasting 47 games of KFC Big Bash League and Women's Big Bash League over the upcoming summer, live and exclusive," Network Ten Chief Executive Officer Paul Anderson said.

WATCH: Top 10 sixes of BBL|05

In total, BBL|06 will feature 35 games in 40 days across the summer school holidays.

Entry level ticket prices remain unchanged for the sixth straight season, with general public tickets to go on sale on Thursday, October 6.