Big Bash mess deepens as Cricket Victoria boss stands down

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Cricket Victoria chair Ross Hepburn announced he will step down after deciding not to seek re-election amid controversy over proposed restructuring and rebranding of the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades BBL teams. His departure comes as the organisation faces stalled privatisation efforts and broader governance reform discussions requiring consensus among state associations and player representatives.

Cricket Victoria chair Ross Hepburn is expected to step down in the coming weeks after announcing he will not seek re-election, following a period of internal turbulence related to the governance and branding of the state’s Big Bash League (BBL) teams.

Hepburn, 75, who has served on the Cricket Victoria (CV) board since 2020 and assumed the chairmanship in 2022, made the decision amid fallout from a controversial proposal that sought to restructure the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades franchises. The initial plan involved rebranding the Melbourne Stars and selling the Renegades outright. However, these initiatives faced strong opposition from rival state associations, Cricket Australia (CA), and the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA), resulting in a delay of any rebranding efforts until at least the 2027-28 season.

Recently, Cricket Victoria moved to trademark several potential new names for the Melbourne Renegades, including Rangers, Blazers, and Magic, signaling preparations for a possible overhaul. Yet the pushback from other states and governing bodies has forced the organisation to pause, highlighting the complexity of negotiating privatisation and rebranding in a multi-jurisdictional environment.

Hepburn reportedly informed the CV board that other state chairs had expressed support for exploring privatisation models, a claim that some of those chairs have disputed. At the recent meeting of state chairs to discuss the matter, Hepburn was absent, as he was overseas in Europe.

Alongside Hepburn’s forthcoming departure, fellow board director Penelope Cleghorn has indicated her intention to seek re-election. Cricket Victoria is currently inviting nominations for its board election, with candidates required to submit their applications by August 3. The board is also looking to fill a casual vacancy following the resignation of Melissa McConnell last year and is encouraging women to stand for election to meet its goal of maintaining 40 percent female representation on the board.

The broader discussions surrounding the future governance of the BBL franchises and Cricket Australia itself have revealed a desire among some states, including New South Wales, South Australia, and Queensland, for broader governance reforms. These include proposals to reinstate a governance arrangement that would allow state appointees to hold positions on both CA’s and their respective state boards, reflecting an earlier organisational structure.

Cricket Victoria has emphasized that advancing privatisation and restructuring ambitions depends on overcoming several critical challenges. These include establishing a funding model agreeable to all states and securing consensus from the players’ union, a prerequisite identified by counterparts during recent negotiations.

As Cricket Victoria navigates this period of uncertainty, the departure of its long-serving chair signals a potential shift in approach as the organisation reassesses its strategies in consultation with stakeholders at the national level.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.