Cricket Victoria has taken another step in its drive to reshape the Melbourne landscape in the Big Bash League, with a bid to trademark the name Melbourne Rangers in what could be a replacement name for the Melbourne Stars.

 

An application with IP Australia revealed the application was submitted Thursday, two days after the chief executive of Cricket Victoria, Nick Cummins, wrote to staff advising them of a new future plan relating to Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades.

 

Accoring to the reports from The Herald Sun, Cricket Victoria has also registered the names Blazers and Magic, and the three names will be put to Cricket Australia for their approval in the plans for the future of the Melbourne BBL teams.

 

The trademark application is now awaiting examination, with a first report due to be released by early September.

 

Three Names Emerge as Rebrand Plans Take Shape

 

The proposed trademarks also apply to a broad list of services, such as clothing and sporting equipment as well as printed matter, mobile apps, downloadable software and fitness-related services.

 

One proposed name in Melbourne Rangers may be particularly significant to long-time cricket followers, relating to the State's men's cricket team, who had played as the Bushrangers between 1995 and 2018.

 

Magic has sport links in Melbourne, too, with a basketball side named South East Melbourne Magic competing in Australia's National Basketball League between 1992-98, after a merger between the Eastside Spectres and Southern Melbourne Saints.

 

Any significant change to the current Melbourne BBL line-ups would need both the blessing of Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association, even with the trademarks applied for.

 

Also Read | Cricket Australia Admits Timing of Stars-Renegades Merger Announcement 'Not Ideal'

 

Melbourne BBL Future Still Unclear

 

Cricket Victoria has also included a proposal in the larger deal which would involve the merger of the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades. The team which is currently known as the Stars would be controlled by Cricket Victoria while it is possible that the Renegades license could be sold to private investors, likely from India.

 

However it is still unknown whether or not this proposal will ever come to fruition. A senior cricket official from another state and outside Victoria, told us that he still expects the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades to take part in BBL16 this year.

 

The Stars are one of the most identifiable sides of the competition ever since the first BBL season back in 2011, with numerous famous cricketers featuring for the Stars including Shane Warne, Kevin Pietersen and Glenn Maxwell. Actress Liz Hurley was a regular face at games during her relationship with the spin wizard.

 

The news of potential change comes as Cricket Australia continue to debate the wider proposals for privatising the BBL which were put on hold in April after NSW and Queensland had previously spoken out against the idea. CEO's from each of the states will now meet this week before the chairs meet on June 15 to discuss further details on the sale.

 

So for now the future of Melbourne's BBL sides remains unclear, however Melbourne Rangers is now the favorite should a rename take place.