Test players released for start of BBL

Several of Australia's Test cricketers will be made available for Big Bash League matches between the first and second Tests against West Indies, Cricket Australia has confirmed.

The BBL begins on December 17 and some of Australia's Test cricketers will be available for at least the first four days of the Twenty20 tournament, given the lengthy gap between Tests. The first Test against West Indies will be played in Hobart from December 10 to 14, and there is then a 10-day break before the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

However, the Test fast bowlers will not take part in the BBL matches and opening batsman David Warner, who is yet to sign with a team for this season, will sit out to spend time with his pregnant wife Candice. Allrounder Mitchell Marsh's availability is yet to be decided, with his workload in the coming Tests likely to determine if he will play in the BBL during that period.

Steven Smith, Joe Burns, Peter Nevill, Nathan Lyon and, fitness pending, Usman Khawaja, will be available from December 17 to 20. There is also a possibility the Perth Scorchers players in the Test squad - Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh and Mitchell Marsh - will be made available for their team's first game on December 21.

The Test players will gather in Melbourne on December 22 ahead of the Boxing Day Test.