Cricket Australia and CoachMate launch Big Bash Schools Challenge to inspire the next generation
Melbourne/Auckland – In a first-of-its-kind initiative that combines sport, education and digital technology, Cricket Australia has partnered with CoachMate to launch the Big Bash Schools Challenge, a platform that showcases Cricket Australia’s commitment to innovation and grassroots growth.
A New Way to Engage School Children in Classrooms
The Big Bash Schools Challenge digitises and reimagines Cricket Australia’s Mascot Challenge programme. Optimised for desktop, web app and tablet use, it enables teachers to run four weeks of flexible, activity-based sessions during brain breaks, class warm-ups or PE lessons.
The programme supports basic fundamental skill and movement development and classroom learning, giving teachers the confidence to deliver simple, fun activities.
True to its name, the Big Bash Schools Challenge is designed to do exactly that - challenge students to get active, stay motivated and keep learning each day. Whether it’s taking part in daily movement activities, or competing in the gamified at-home experience with other schools on national leaderboards, every element encourages effort, teamwork and friendly competition in the spirit of the Big Bash.
Bringing the Big Bash to Life Through Education and Fandom
Harnessing the family-friendly appeal of the KFC Big Bash League (BBL) and the Weber Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), all 15 team mascots appear as animated avatars.
As part of the at-home experience that runs alongside classroom activities, students select a favourite mascot and progress through cricket-themed challenges that blend movement, literacy and numeracy.
By embedding the colour, fun and recognisable characters of the Big Bash, the platform connects directly with families, builds early fandom and creates an engaging entry point into cricket.
Motivation through Gamification
The at-home experience includes a gamified pathway to keep students motivated beyond the classroom. Children earn XP, tickets and skill badges, move up levels and build streaks. Tickets can be redeemed in a digital shop to customise mascots with bats, pads, gloves and balls.
Schools can measure their progress against other schools on national, state and Big Bash team leaderboards, with chances to win prizes such as Woolworths vouchers, a Weber BBQ and signed Cricket Australia team merchandise. These rewards encourage collective effort, build team spirit and celebrate achievement at every level.
From Classroom to Community Cricket
The Big Bash Schools Challenge also helps make the transition into cricket participation programmes like Woolworths Cricket Blast simple and enjoyable. By linking classroom activities and at-home play with the look and feel of the Big Bash, the programme connects families, creates familiarity with basic cricket skills and creates a clear pathway into community cricket.
Cricket participation continues to rise in Australia. According to the 2024 Cricket Australia Census, overall engagement increased 5.5%, with junior and female participation leading the way and with informal backyard cricket in decline, structured school-based programmes are critical in helping children discover the game and stick with it.
The platform also delivers valuable data and insights for Cricket Australia, providing a clearer view of how teachers and students engage with cricket in the classroom and at home. Through these insights, Cricket Australia can understand which activities resonate most, where participation is strongest, and how to best support families as they take the next step into Cricket Blast and, in time, club cricket.
For the first time, school-based engagement data can be connected to broader participation pathways - creating a more complete, evidence-based picture of how young Australians discover and stay involved in cricket.
Kieran McMillan, Head of Customer Experience at Cricket Australia, said:
“At Cricket Australia we understand that every child’s earliest experience of our game can make all the difference. The Big Bash Schools Challenge gives teachers easy-to-use, curriculum-aligned resources that build their confidence to deliver fun and engaging movement activities in the classroom.
The addition of a gamified at-home experience makes learning feel like play - connecting families, encouraging basic skill development and fostering a lifelong love of cricket. It’s another example of our commitment to using innovation and technology to make cricket more accessible, engaging and relevant for the next generation.”
Michelle Walshe, CEO and Co-Founder of CoachMate, said:
“We built this with Cricket Australia from the ground up. The brief was simple: make it easy for teachers, joyful for kids and something families can share at home.
If it feels like Big Bash in the classroom and helps children step confidently into Cricket Blast on the weekend, we’ve done our job.”
Looking ahead
The Big Bash Schools Challenge first hit Australian classrooms in Term 3 and 4 of 2025 and will continue to expand nationally into the 2025/26 school year. Tens of thousands of students are expected to take part.