Melbourne Stars and Renegades Merger Confirmed as Cricket Victoria Plans Franchise Sale

Cricket Victoria (CV) has announced significant changes to its Big Bash League (BBL) operations, with confirmation that a one-team solution will be introduced to bring the clubs of Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades as one entity ahead of the 2026-27 season. The move comes after CV will be selling the second BBL license (after Cricket Australia [CA] officially approves this stage of dealing with the privatization of leagues) – to a leasing investor.

It was announced following a meeting at Cricket Victoria headquarters on Tuesday that staff from both clubs were told about the decision. Then each squad member was contacted separately, although details of the merger broke to media outlets before some players had been officially informed.

The Melbourne Stars brand would be retired under the proposal. Gone will be the franchise’s signature green colors and identity, replaced with an entirely new name and branding. The merged franchise has not yet revealed the ultimate name (Cricket Victoria are expected to use traditional state navy-blue colours for it). The new team will play its home matches at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

The merged club will be overseen by current Renegades General Manager James Rosengarten. Players from the Stars’ BBL and WBBL squads who are contracted will stay with the new franchise through the 2026-27 season. In other news, The Renegades will play on as the Renegades next season, in a caretaker role run by Stars General Manager Max Abbott, should a sale of the second licence not be secured in time.

Questions remain regarding coaching arrangements. Cameron White is the men’s coach of the Renegades, while the women’s side does not have a head coach after Simon Helmot departed for Gulf Giants in the ILT20. Coaching structures for both franchises are expected to be formed by Cricket Victoria in the next few months.

The proposal to sell would largely hinge on Cricket Australia approving a hybrid sandbox privatisation model for the BBL and WBBL. CA will formally discuss the proposal at a meeting of the state chairs scheduled for mid-June. The sale process would likely be quick, with new ownership agreed before the beginning of next season if approved.

The plan by Cricket Victoria echoes moves in England’s Hundred competition, where Yorkshire agreed to sell a stake in its franchise to Sun Group, owner of Indian Premier League outfit Sunrisers Hyderabad. After the sale, the franchise was renamed as Sunrisers Leeds.

The bidding process would allow for interested investors to bid on the outright ownership of the current Renegades license once it starts. It means the winning bidder will take control of the operations and may rename and rebrand the team, ushering in a new era for both Melbourne cricket and the entire Big Bash League.