Australia Day, Xmas Eve and India opener headline BBL|16 fixture

Cricket Australia have released the full KFC BBL|16 fixture for the upcoming summer of cricket.

The season begins in unique fashion, with the competition heading to India for the first time ever on December 12, with the Melbourne Renegades playing the Perth Scorchers at Chennai’s M.A Chidambaram Stadium.

Three days later, things begin in Australia, with fixtures taking place every night, with the exception of Christmas Day, until late January.

The return of Christmas Eve cricket is locked in too, with the Renegades hosting the Hurricanes under lights at Junction Oval.

The Adelaide Strikers welcome the Stars for their annual New Year’s Eve celebration, before a New Year's Day double-header as the Renegades face the Sixers at the MCG, before the Heat take on the Hurricanes in Brisbane.

The Stars and Renegades will also face off in their Derbies in the New Year, with SEN’s Tom Morris first reporting that those games will take place on January 4 and 16 at the MCG.

The Finals series begins on January 19, with the decider seeing a return of cricket on January 26 after two years without a major match on Australia Day.

“The KFC BBL|16 season is shaping up to have everything we love about the Big Bash – great players, full stadiums of fans and the best nights of entertainment anywhere this summer,” Cricket Australia Executive General Manager, Big Bash Leagues, Alastair Dobson, said.

“With uninterrupted action every night of the regular season and all the marquee games our fans love, this schedule ensures the BBL remains the heartbeat of summer.

“We’re hugely excited by the opportunity to open the season in Chennai and can’t wait to see the return of Christmas Eve cricket under lights at Junction Oval.

“The Big Bash was built on the spirit of innovation and evolution, and our new Designated Batter and Fielder rule will come into effect this season, giving teams more strategic options and creating new dynamics for fans to enjoy.”

Check out the full fixture below. Listen to every game across the summer on SEN and the SEN app