Cricket NSW has announced a new T20 knockout competition to be played by 16 new franchises throughout regional NSW, starting on Sunday, October 11, and culminating in the  finals gala day at the SCG on Sunday, December 6.

The Plan B Regional Bash will see eight conference franchises from both the Sydney Sixers and the Sydney Thunder, creating a direct pathway for identification of regional cricketers into the Cricket NSW Big Bash League elite.

The eight Sixers conference teams are the Central Coast Rush, Coffs Coast Chargers, Hunter Hitmen, Illawarra Flames, Macquarie Coast Stingers, Newcastle Blasters, Northern Inland Bolters and Northern Rivers Rock.

The Thunder Conference franchises are the ACT Aces, Border Bullets, Central West Wranglers, Murrumbidgee Rangers, Orana Outlaws, South Coast Crew, Southern Riverina Vipers and Wagga Wagga Sloggers.

Both conferences will also have a conference ambassador to help coach teams, engage with the regional areas and promote T20 cricket in general.

Former NSW and Australian batting hero Doug Walters will be the Sixers ambassador, while former NSW and Australian fast bowler Len Pascoe will do the honours for the Thunder conference.

“The Plan B Regional Bash is a fantastic new competition and we are very excited about launching it across regional NSW,” Cricket NSW CEO Andrew Jones.

“We are committed to growing cricket in regional NSW and ensure talented players in those areas get the opportunities they deserve.  We also want to ensure everyone in NSW Cricket has a direct link with the Sixers and Thunder teams, and the Plan B Regional Bash will do all of these things.”

The Plan B Regional Bash will start on October 11 when the Coffs Coast Chargers take on the Northern Rivers Rock in Coffs Harbour.