Last Updated on 1 month by Charbel Coorey

Mid-December is upon us, and that means it’s time for the 2024/25 Big Bash League (BBL). Eight teams will compete for the title, with seven aiming to dethrone Brisbane Heat who beat Sydney Sixers in last season’s final.

In this article, we’ll look at the full squads for each team plus the possible XIs for their respective first matches, including injury news. It should be noted that Australian Test representatives may be available for the final three league games of the season, but that will ultimately depend on fitness and any management ahead of the Sri Lanka tour in January.

BBL 2024/25: A look at all the squads and possible playing XIs

Adelaide Strikers

Squad: Fabian Allen (West Indies), James Bazley, Cameron Boyce, Jordan Buckingham, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Travis Head, Thomas Kelly, Chris Lynn, Harry Nielsen, Jamie Overton (England), Lloyd Pope, Ollie Pope (England), Alex Ross, D’Arcy Short, Matt Short, Henry Thornton, Jake Weatherald. Signed replacement player: Liam Scott

Possible XI for first match against Sydney Thunder at Manuka Oval, Canberra: 1. Chris Lynn, 2. Matt Short (c), 3. D’Arcy Short, 4. Jake Weatherald, 5. Alex Ross, 6. Jamie Overton (OS), 7. Harry Nielsen (wk), 8. Fabian Allen (OS), 9. Jordan Buckingham, 10. Cameron Boyce, 11. Henry Thornton

Alex Carey, Travis Head and Ollie Pope are all on Test duty. It remains to be seen if Brendan Doggett will be available as he is part of the Australia Test squad. Jamie Overton and Fabian Allen are expected to line up as the latter is not part of the West Indies T20I squad against Bangladesh.

Brisbane Heat

Squad: Tom Alsop (England), Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Spencer Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan McSweeney, Colin Munro (New Zealand), Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Will Prestwidge, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson, Callum Vidler, Paul Walter (England), Jack Wildermuth, Jack Wood

Possible XI for first match against Melbourne Stars at MCG: 1. Colin Munro (OS), 2. Matthew Renshaw, 3. Max Bryant, 4. Tom Alsop (OS), 5. Jimmy Peirson (c & wk), 6. Paul Walter (OS), 7. Jack Wildermuth, 8. Will Prestwidge/Spencer Johnson, 9. Matt Kuhnemann, 10. Mitchell Swepson, 11. Xavier Bartlett

Champions Brisbane Heat have early season challenges. Michael Neser is expected to miss the first half of the season due to a hamstring injury according to cricket.com.au. Spencer Johnson is in doubt for the first match. Also, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney are all on Australian Test duty.

“He’s [Bartlett] done really well for Australia, he did a great job for the Heat last season and with two of our senior bowlers under an injury cloud at the moment, he’s going to become huge,” coach Johan Botha said to cricket.com.au.

Hobart Hurricanes

Squad: Iain Carlisle, Nikhil Chaudhary, Tim David, Paddy Dooley, Jake Doran, Nathan Ellis, Peter Hatzoglou, Shai Hope (West Indies), Caleb Jewell, Chris Jordan (England), Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Waqar Salamkheil (Afghanistan), Billy Stanlake, Matthew Wade, Charlie Wakim, Mac Wright. Signed replacement player: Marcus Bean

Possible XI for first match against Melbourne Renegades at GMHBA Stadium, Geelong: 1. Shai Hope (OS), 2. Matthew Wade (wk), 3. Caleb Jewell, 4. Ben McDermott, 5. Tim David, 6. Nikhil Chaudhary, 7. Mitch Owen, 8. Chris Jordan (OS), 9. Nathan Ellis, 10. Paddy Dooley, 11. Riley Meredith

There are question marks around the Hurricanes’ batting for this season. Matthew Wade and West Indies’ Shai Hope could open the batting, with Ben McDermott to bat further down. England’s Chris Jordan plus Nathan Ellis and Riley Meredith are expected to be the three frontline pace bowlers.

Melbourne Renegades

Squad: Jacob Bethell (England), Josh Brown, Xavier Crone, Harry Dixon, Laurie Evans (England), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Marcus Harris, Mackenzie Harvey, Nathan Lyon, Fergus O’Neill, Kane Richardson, Tom Rogers, Gurinder Sandhu, Tim Seifert (New Zealand), Will Sutherland, Jon Wells, Adam Zampa. Signed replacement player: Hassan Khan (USA/Pakistan), Callum Stow

Possible XI for first match against Sydney Sixers at SCG: 1. Jake Fraser-McGurk, 2. Josh Brown, 3. Mackenzie Harvey, 4. Tim Seifert (OS, wk), 5. Jon Wells, 6. Laurie Evans (OS), 7. Will Sutherland, 8. Kane Richardson, 9. Adam Zampa, 10. Tom Rogers, 11. Fergus O’Neill

The Melbourne Renegades look strong in the batting department. Josh Brown joins from the Brisbane Heat and they still have Jacob Bethell to join them after the England Test series in New Zealand. He not only offers excellent strokeplay, but also an important spin option – an area where the Renegades look a little light despite the quality of Adam Zampa in their ranks.

Melbourne Stars

Squad: Scott Boland, Hilton Cartwright, Brody Couch, Tom Curran (England), Ben Duckett (England), Sam Harper, Campbell Kellaway, Glenn Maxwell, Hamish McKenzie, Jon Merlo, Usama Mir (Pakistan), Joel Paris, Tom Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mark Steketee, Marcus Stoinis, Doug Warren, Beau Webster. Signed replacement players: Joe Clarke (England), Adam Milne (New Zealand), Austin Anlezark

Possible XI for first match against Perth Scorchers at Optus Stadium, Perth: 1. Joe Clarke (OS), 2. Tom Rogers, 3. Sam Harper (wk), 4. Marcus Stoinis (c), 5. Hilton Cartwright, 6. Beau Webster, 7. Tom Curran (OS), 8. Brody Couch, 9. Adam Milne (OS), 10. Peter Siddle, 11. Hamish McKenzie

Glenn Maxwell is out of the Stars’ opening match at least with a hamstring injury. In fact, the Stars named their squad for the opening match. Where Stoinis bats is the big question.

Scott Boland, Ben Duckett and Usama Mir are unavailable for the opening match due to international duty.

Perth Scorchers

Squad: Ashton Agar, Finn Allen (New Zealand), Mahli Beardman, Jason Behrendorff, Cooper Connolly, Sam Fanning, Aaron Hardie, Nick Hobson, Matthew Hurst (England), Josh Inglis, Keaton Jennings (England), Matt Kelly, Mitch Marsh, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Matthew Spoors, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye. Signed replacement player: Bryce Jackson

Possible XI for first match against Melbourne Stars at Optus Stadium, Perth: 1. Finn Allen (OS), 2. Keaton Jennings (OS), 3. Aaron Hardie, 4. Ashton Turner (c), 5. Nick Hobson, 6. Cooper Connolly, 7. Ashton Agar, 8. Jhye Richardson, 9. Jason Behrendhorff, 10. Andrew Tye, 11. Lance Morris

The availability of Jhye Richardson and Lance Morris remains unclear for Perth Scorchers. If one or both are out, they have the likes of Mahli Beardman and Matthew Kelly who could slot in.

Mitch Marsh is unavailable due to Test duty. Josh Inglis is also in the Test squad, so it remains to be seen what his availability is. However, they still have a strong batting lineup with Finn Allen up top and proven BBL performer Aaron Hardie as well.

Sydney Sixers

Squad: Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Jafer Chohan (England), Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques, Akeal Hosein (West Indies), Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Ben Manenti, Todd Murphy, Kurtis Patterson, Mitch Perry, Josh Philippe, Jordan Silk, Steve Smith, James Vince (England). Signed replacement player: Lachlan Shaw

Possible XI for first match against Melbourne Renegades at SCG: 1. Josh Philippe (wk), 2. James Vince (OS), 3. Daniel Hughes, 4. Moises Henriques (c), 5. Jordan Silk, 6. Jack Edwards, 7. Hayden Kerr, 8. Ben Manenti, 9. Ben Dwarshuis, 10. Todd Murphy, 11. Jackson Bird

It remains to be seen if Sean Abbott is available as he was selected in the Australia Test squad. Akeal Hosein will miss the early part of the season as he is in the West Indies T20I squad against Bangladesh. All in all, the Sixers look settled with in-form players including Jack Edwards and Kurtis Patterson to choose from.

Sydney Thunder

Squad: Wes Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Sam Billings (England), Ollie Davies, Lockie Ferguson (New Zealand), Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Ryan Hadley, Liam Hatcher, Sam Konstas, Nic Maddinson, Nathan McAndrew, Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies), William Salzmann, Daniel Sams, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, David Warner. Marquee supplementary list: Pat Cummins

Possible XI for first match against Adelaide Strikers at Manuka Oval, Canberra: 1. David Warner (c), 2. Nic Maddinson, 3. Jason Sangha, 4. Sam Billings (OS, wk), 5. Ollie Davies, 6. Sherfane Rutherford (OS), 7. Daniel Sams, 8. Chris Green, 9. Nathan McAndrew/Wes Agar, 10. Lockie Ferguson (OS), 11. Tanveer Sangha

David Warner will captain the Thunder in what promises to be a strong season. He is available for the whole campaign. Sam Billings, Sherfane Rutherford and Lockie Ferguson is a strong overseas contingent. How the likes of Nic Maddinson and Daniel Sams go can be crucial to their hopes.