Cricket Australia has opened the Big Bash to private investment, although individual state associations will retain the power to decide whether and when to sell stakes in their franchises.

The governing body had originally been keen on a league-wide sale of franchises for the Big Bash League (BBL) and the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) but those proposals were opposed by New South Wales and Queensland.

Instead, a “self-determination model” will be adopted by Cricket Australia for the process, which will allow individual states to have the final say.

The decision to sell stakes in Big Bash franchises follows the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) decision to sell stakes in The Hundred’s eight teams last year, which generated more than £500m.

The eight franchises were valued collectively at more than £975m.

BBC Sport understands officials from Cricket Australia met with some of the owners of franchises in The Hundred this summer and a number of them have expressed an interest in investing in the Big Bash.

Cricket Australia said the decision was a “landmark step” for the country’s T20 tournament, with bids now being invited to purchase 100% of the licence for the Melbourne Renegades.

Advertisement

The aim is for the Renegades to be playing in the 2027-28 Big Bash under new ownership.

“Pending the result of that process, Cricket Australia will consider taking other clubs to market under a self-determination model that gives each state member the ability to assess the optimal pathway for its own club and community,” the governing body said in a statement.

“The decision to proceed with this self-determination model was made in the best interests of all aspects of Australian cricket.”

The Renegades will be operated by Cricket Australia in a caretaker capacity during the coming season, with their sale not affecting the 2026-27 BBL or WBBL.

Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Stars and Perth Scorchers are reportedly keen to bring in private investment but the two Sydney-based sides – Sixers and Thunder – along with Brisbane Heat and Adelaide Strikers are reluctant to commit.

The self-determination model means those states can choose to explore private investment in future.

Cricket Australia plans to retain control over international scheduling, player availability, salary caps and media rights.

Advertisement

It will also hold the power to approve or veto potential investors and set a reserve price for the sale of the Renegades.

Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird said the governing body and state associations were “united in our commitment to investing in and growing the BBL and WBBL” and to “advancing the interests of cricket at every level”.

“By opening the door to private investment in the Big Bash Leagues, Cricket Australia is taking a deliberate step to strengthen and secure the long-term future of the game,” he said.

Baird added that the investment can “accelerate growth” to ensure Cricket Australia can “keep investing in community cricket and grassroots participation, domestic and international pathways and the elite level”.

Cricket Australia also said it was continuing “constructive discussions” with the Australian Cricketers’ Association over an ongoing pay dispute.

Van de Zandschulp’s reward for reaching the second US Open quarter-final of his career is a meeting with German top seed Alexander Zverev.

Zverev, 29, had a rare finish before midnight in New York when he beat Italian 21st seed Luciano Darderi 6-2 6-2 7-6 (7-3) to reach the last eight.

Zverev’s previous three matches finished at 1:55am, 2:15am and 1:09am.

“I don’t know what to do with myself because it’s before midnight – I might go back to the practice courts or go to a bar,” Zverev joked.

On whether he wants to play Van de Zandschulp in Wednesday’s night session, the French Open champion added: “I will request the night match for sure.

“I’ve rented this court out from 11pm until 2am for two weeks so I hope they will continue putting me on at [night] time.”

Earlier on Monday, Belgium’s Alexander Blockx said he was “really close” to retiring injured against Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo before playing on to reach his first major quarter-final.

Advertisement

Blockx, seeded 28th, fought through rib pain to win 6-3 4-6 7-5 7-5, becoming the first Belgian man to make the last eight in New York.

“It was really tough from the beginning of the match. I was struggling a lot, especially while serving. It kept getting worse throughout the match,” said 21-year-old Blockx.

“I was really close to retiring, to be honest. I was just hanging in there, but if I would have lost the third set, I think the chances were really high of me retiring.

“I’m glad that I kept on playing.”

Presuming he is fit enough, Blockx will play Russian world number 50 Karen Khachanov in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Khachanov, 30, fought back to win 7-5 4-6 6-7 (6-8) 6-1 6-4 against 14th seed Learner Tien, ending the American’s attempt to put four home men in the quarter-finals for the first time since 1995.

Oliver Lines stunned Zhao Xintong with a 4-2 win over the world number one in the first round of the English Open.

China’s Zhao, the 2025 world champion, made two century breaks as the tie was level at 2-2 following the first four frames.

But England’s Lines, 31, compiled breaks of 77 and 84 to win the next two frames and set up a last-32 meeting with Yuan Sijun in Brentwood.

“You know you have to raise your game,” said Lines.

“You try not to think about it, but you know if you don’t play somewhere near your best then you are going home.”

Elsewhere, world number four Neil Robertson was beaten 4-3 by China’s Luo Zetao.

But former world champion Kyren Wilson beat Poland’s Mateusz Baranowski 4-1 and China’s three-time UK Championship winner Ding Junhui sealed a 4-3 win over Michael Holt.

Advertisement