Cricket Australia Brings Baseball-Style Rule to BBL and WBBL, Allows Fans to Take Match Ball Back Home

The real heart of cricket is the fans. The cheers, excitement, and love of every fan make a game special in their own way. Many of them dream to get the ball hit into the stands and take it home for keeps. Now, that dream is about to come true. Cricket Australia has introduced a new rule for the upcoming BBL and WBBL seasons, one that will make the fans very delighted.

Cricket Australia Introduces Baseball-Style Rule in BBL and WBBL, Letting Fans Keep Match Ball

According to this new rule, if a batter hits a six and the ball lands in the stands, the lucky fan who catches it gets to keep the ball. The rule will come into effect during the first over of each innings. The new concept has been termed 'Westpac Keep the Ball', an exclusive arrangement by Cricket Australia along with their banking partner Westpac. Every innings will get underway with a Westpac-branded ball, with umpires having extra balls on hand to keep the match running without delay.

From this BBL & WBBL season onwards, fans can take the ball home if it is hit into the crowd only in the first over of every innings 🧤

Do you think the IPL should bring in rules like these to make it more fan friendly? 🤔#haveyoursay pic.twitter.com/8G6SsuSpwC

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) November 6, 2025

Cricket Australia's General Manager Alistair Dobson welcomed the move, saying that it was all about creating a better and more enjoyable experience for the fans. "Fans are a big part of what makes the Big Bash special. This new idea shows our effort to keep them connected with the game. We're grateful to Westpac for helping us make this happen," Dobson said.

The Women's Big Bash League starts on November 9, followed by the Big Bash League on December 14. Fans are excited already, and now they have one more reason to cheer because this season they might get to take a real match ball home.

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