Big Bash League Team-by-Team Guide: Sixers to return to glory years

• Sixers and hurricanes stand out

• Scorchers next best

• Teams ranked on two-year strike rate and economy

• Squads, possible XIs and player win rates

• Easy guide to in-season player churn

---

Player churn

Group stage: December 14-january 18

Play-offs: January 20-25

Pakistan T20Is - Sri Lanka vs Pakistan - Jan 7-11

Possible: Babar Azam (Sydney Sixers), Shaheen Afridi (Brisbane Heat), Mohammad Rizwan (Melbourne Renegades), Shadab Khan (Sydney Thunder), Haris Rauf (Melbourne Stars)

NZ ODIs/T20Is - India vs New Zealand - Jan 11-31

Possible: Finn Allen (Perth Scorchers), Tim Seifert (Melbourne Renegades), Lockie Ferguson (Sydney Thunder)

England ODIs/T20Is - Sri Lanka vs England series - Jan 22 onwards

Possible: Jamie Overton, Luke Wood (Adelaide Strikers), Rehan Ahmed (Hobart Hurricanes), Sam Curran (Sydney Sixers)

---

Hobart Hurricanes 4/15.00

Last two years: W/5
Batting rank: 2
Bowling rank: 7
Top bat win % last 2 years: McDermott 28
Top bowler win % last 2 years: Ellis 35

Squad: Rehan Ahmed (contracted until BBL|15), Marcus Bean, Jackson Bird, Iain Carlisle, Nikhil Chaudhary, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Rishad Hossain, Chris Jordan, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Billy Stanlake, Matthew Wade, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster, Mac Wright (BBL|15)

Possible XI: Owen, Wade, McDermott, David, Webster, Chaudhary, Wright/Stanlake, Hossain, Jordan, Meredith, Ellis

Analysis: The champs. And they will be very hard to beat again having strengthened with the addition of Beau Webster from Stars. There are early injuries to Mitch Owen and Matthew Wade so a slow start is possible and Rehan Ahmed is back in England with injury, but once they find their groove a play-off spot is assured. Them and Sixers are the two standout teams. 

---

Sydney Sixers 9/25.50

Last two years: 2/RU
Batting rank: 4
Bowling rank: 2
Top bat win % last 2 years: Henriques 25
Top bowler win % last 2 years: Abbott 40

Squad: Sean Abbott, Babar Azam, Jafer Chohan, Sam Curran, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Ben Manenti, Todd Murphy, Mitch Perry, Josh Philippe, Kane Richardson, Lachlan Shaw, Jordan Silk, Steve Smith 

Possible XI: Babar, Hughes, Philippe,  S Curran, Silk, Henriques, Kerr, Edwards, Abbott, Dwarshuis, Murphy

Analysis: Sixers have pedigree. With ten of the winners finishing in the top two in the 14 editions, Sixers have finished in that slot six of the last six. It might be time for another win. The squad is strong and could get stronger. Mitchell Starc and Steve Smith could come back in for the last three group games and the play-offs. Packed with all-round talent and depth they have a strong chance of their first title  since 2021. the extra sugar in the price over 'Canes makes the difference.

---

Perth Scorchers 9/25.50

Last two years: 5/3
Batting rank: 6
Bowling rank: 1
Top bat win % last 2 years: Inglis 25
Top bowler win % last 2 years: na

Squad: Ashton Agar, Finn Allen, Mahli Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Brody Couch, Laurie Evans, Sam Fanning, Aaron Hardie, Nick Hobson, Josh Inglis, Bryce Jackson, Matthew Kelly, Mitch Marsh, Joel Paris, David Payne, Jhye Richardson, Ashton Turner 

Possible XI: Allen, Marsh, Connolly, Evans, Hardie, Turner, Hobson, Agar, Richardson, Payne, Beardman/Paris/Kelly

Analysis: Perth are taken to have a good season after a few seasons struggling to reach previous heights. They just miss out on selection for the outright, however due to the injury to pacer Lance Morris and the loss of Jason Behrendorff. Those two account for more than 60% of wins on top bowler in the last two years. Jhye Richardson and Mahli Beardman could ensure those two are not missed and Mitch Marsh's availability is a major boost, but they might be pipped in the play-offs. 

---

Brisbane Heat 5/16.00

Last two years: 7/W
Batting rank: 3
Bowling rank: 6

Top bat win % last 2 years: McSweeney 23
Top bowler win % last 2 years: Bartlett 32

Squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Tom Alsop, Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Lachlan Hearne, Spencer Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan McSweeney, Colin Munro, Michael Neser, Oli Patterson, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Callum Vidler, Hugh Weibgen, Jack Wildermuth

Possible XI: Khawaja, Munro, McSweeney, Alsop, Renshaw, Bryant, Neser, Wildermuth, Bartlett, Afridi, Kuhnemann

Analysis: The hot, hot Heat's temeprature dropped alarmingly after a title win the previous season. They're not the force of old but are competitive thanks to a a strong bowling attack. But is the batting destructive enough? Usman Khawaja's probable availability is not the shot in the arm it used to be while they also desperately need Michael nNser to be available as their talisman. 

---

Sydney Thunder 6/17.00

Last two years: 3/8
Batting rank: 7
Bowling rank: 5
Top bat win % last 2 years: Warner 35
Top bowler win % last 2 years: T Sangha 28

Squad: Tom Andrews, Wes Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Sam Billings, Ollie Davies, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Gilkes, Chris Green, Ryan Hadley, Shadab Khan, Sam Konstas (BBL|18), Nathan McAndrew, Blake Nikitaras, Aidan O'Connor, Daniel Sams, Tanveer Sangha, Reece Topley, David Warner (BBL|15)

Possible XI: Warner, Konstas, Bancroft, Davies, Billings, Green, Sams, Shadab, McAndrew, Topley/Ferguson, T Sangha

Analysis: The surprise package last season. Thunder were, frankly, superb to be in the mix having suffered significant player churn. They are well led by David Warner and coach Trevor Bayliss. The 1-11 is competitive and making another play-off is well within their grasp

---

Melbourne Stars 7/18.00

Last two years: 4/6
Batting rank: 5
Bowling rank: 4
Top bat win % last 2 years: Maxwell 29
Top bowler win % last 2 years: na

Squad: Austin Anlezark, Scott Boland, Hilton Cartwright, Joe Clarke, Tom Curran, Sam Harper, Liam Hatcher, Campbell Kellaway, Glenn Maxwell, Hamish McKenzie, Jon Merlo, Haris Rauf, Tom Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mark Steketee, Marcus Stoinis, Mitch Swepson, Tom Whitney 

Possible XI: Kellaway, Clarke/Harper, Maxwell, Stoinis, Cartwright, T Curran, Rauf, Hatcher, Swepson, Siddle

Analysis: It's a shame for Stars that season on season improvement up until this point has potentially stunted by losing key man Beau Webster. The injury to bowling honcho Mark Steketee is another kick in the unmentionables. Hugely reliant on Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis. Twas ever thus and they still haven't won a title. 

---

Adelaide Strikers 15/28.50

Last two years: 8/4
Batting rank: 1
Bowling rank: 8
Top bat win % last 2 years: M Short 44
Top bat win % last 2 years: J Overton 28

Squad: Hasan Ali, Cameron Boyce, Jordan Buckingham, Alex Carey, Mackenzie Harvey, Travis Head, Thomas Kelly, Chris Lynn, Harry Nielsen, Jamie Overton, Lloyd Pope, Alex Ross, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Matt Short, Tom Straker, Henry Thorton, Luke Wood 

Possible XI: Sangha, Short, Lynn, Ross, Harvey, J Overton, Neilsen, Hasan, L Wood, Pope, Thornton

Analysis: Strikers suffer due to the road that is their home ground and it explains the rankings above. But have they really built a squad to try to leverage a flat pitch? Not really. There doesn't seem to be a point of difference at all. Their three overseas players all come from the bowling all-rounder spectrum, which is bizarre. Travis head and Alex Carey could improve them late on but we say that every year. 

---

Melbourne Renegades 9/110.00

Last two years: 6/4
Batting rank: 8
Bowling rank: 3
Top bat win % last 2 years: Seifert 30
Top bowler win % last 2 years: Behrendorff 32

Squad: Jason Behrendorff (contracted until BBL|17), Josh Brown, Harry Dixon, Brendan Doggett, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Caleb Jewell, Hassan Khan, Nathan Lyon, Fergus O'Neill, Ollie Peake, Muhammad Rizwan, Tom Rogers, Will Salzmann, Gurinder Sandhu, Tim Seifert, Callum Stow, Will Sutherland, Adam Zampa (BBL|15)

Possible XI: Fraser-McGurk, Seifert, Brown, Rizwan, Jewell, Sutherland, Hassan Khan, Rogers, Behrendorff, O'Neill, Zampa

Analysis: Maybe there isn't as big a gulf between Renegades and, say, Heat in terms of squad ability. But Renegades have had a decent group for a while and not delivered. Jason Behrendorff is a fine bowler but did they need him when they already boast Fergus O'Neill and Tom Rogers? Caleb Jewell has never kicked on and is very much a 'meh' signing. There is a worry about where the big boy bat power comes from. 

---

Bookmark our Ashes page for the best Ashes Series insight, previews and tips

---