SYDNEY Thunder and Melbourne Stars will play a Big Bash practice match at Lavington Oval in December.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
With international stars including England's Kevin Pietersen (pictured) West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell and Australia's Usman Khawaja set to play, officials are confident of drawing a 15,000-strong crowd.
The clash will be played on December 13 – seven days before the start of the Big Bash season.
In another coup, Australian star Meg Lanning will captain Melbourne Stars against Sydney Thunder in a curtain-raiser match.
The women's game will be for WBBL points.
Other big-name Sydney Thunder players could include Pat Cummins, Shane Watson and Jacques Kallis while Melbourne Stars are captained by former Australian player David Hussey.
Former Shepparton cricketer Aiden Blizzard is a member of the Thunder squad.
Cricket Australia ticked off on the matches earlier this week with an official announcement to be made in Albury on Friday.