Cricket Victoria has applied to trademark the name Melbourne Rangers as one of three potential new nicknames to replace the Melbourne Stars.
The state association filed an application on Thursday, two days CV chief Nick Cummins told staff of the merger between the Stars and the Melbourne Renegades, according to documents filed with IP Australia, the government agency that deals with administering intellectual property.
A source with direct knowledge of the matter has told this masthead the names Blazers and Magic have also been registered, and will be put forward to Cricket Australia for approval. CA declined to comment on Saturday.
The application is listed as awaiting examination, and a report is expected in early September.
Despite CV’s trademark application, their plan to sell a second Big Bash League licence requires approval by the boards of CA and the Australian Cricketers Association.
A senior state figure outside of Victoria expressed their doubts whether the proposed change would be approved, telling this masthead on Saturday they still expected the Renegades and Stars to suit up for BBL16 next season.
CV’s trademark application covers goods and services such as clothing, protective equipment, printed brochures and games, as well as apps and downloadable computer software for tablets and gym services.
The name Rangers holds appeal to older generations of cricket fans who remember Victoria’s men’s team as the Bushrangers from 1995 to 2018.
Melbourne has previously had a sports team called the Magic. The South East Melbourne Magic played in the NBL from 1992 to 1998 after a merger between the Eastside Spectres and Southern Melbourne Saints.
Australian cricket was shocked on Tuesday after Cummins revealed the plans of the proposal to merge the state’s two BBL teams.
Under CV’s plan, the team formerly known as the Stars would be run in house and the licence for the Renegades would be sold, presumably to interests in India. There is a possibility the Renegades will remain for next season if no buyer can be found.
The Stars had been one of the most identifiable teams since the inauguration of the eight-team city-based competition in 2011.
The late great Shane Warne, Kevin Pietersen and Glenn Maxwell are among the global icons to have played for the glamour club, while actress Liz Hurley was also regularly seen at games during her relationship with Warne.
CA’s privatisation plan was put on hold in April after NSW and Queensland rejected the proposal. The chairs of those states and South Australia challenged CA bosses Mike Baird and Todd Greenberg at a meeting on Thursday.
State CEOs will meet this week before the chairs meet on the matter on June 15.
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