As the days grow longer and as cricketers and cricket-fans alike prepare for another Australian summer, we thought now is a great time to look ahead to the 2025/26 BBL season.
With the overseas player draft complete, we have a pretty good idea of the eight squads that will feature in December. That said, with the season three months away and clubs still being able to sign domestic players, many things could change.
Predicting a BBL table is a tall order. The league is very competitive, and teams rarely fall behind. After the Hurricanes took home the trophy last season, the Melbourne Stars are the only BBL side to never be crowned champions (despite generally having strong squads since the tournament's inception).
Teams move up and down the table from one season to the next. After winning the competition in 2023/24, the Brisbane Heat slipped to second-last position in 2024/25.
Keeping this in mind, here's our best effort at predicting how the BBL|15 table will wrap up.
8. Adelaide Strikers (BBL|14 position: 8th)
Immediately after addressing the fact that the BBL is unpredictable, we've predicted a team to finish in the exact same position as last season.
Unfortunately for the Strikers, it appears little has been done to improve their already underperforming squad, and as it stands, the team list is arguably even weaker.
In terms of domestic players, they've picked up Jason Sangha as he transitions to fully playing for South Australian teams. Sangha is by no means a poor acquisition and is likely to make handy contributions for the Strikers this season.
They have lost quick Brendan Doggett to the Renegades and in-form opening-bat Jake Weatherald to the Hurricanes.
The Strikers have made efforts to pick up capable international players in the form of quicks Hasan Ali and Luke Wood, which will give them a respectable pace attack. Spinners Cameron Boyce and Lloyd Pope have shown glimpses of greatness throughout their careers, but have at times been underwhelming.
Apart from their captain, Matt Short, and Alex Carey (who will likely miss most of the season due to international duties), it's hard to see where the Strikers' runs will be coming from this season, and for that reason, they are at the bottom of our BBL|15 prediction.
7. Melbourne Renegades (BBL|14 position: 6th)
Following a mediocre sixth-place finish in BBL|14, the Renegades have taken some action to bolster their team list; however, it's likely not enough to change their fortunes.
Jason Behrendorff joins the squad after a long career with the Scorchers. Despite nearing the back-end of his professional career, Behrendorff will surely make great contributions for the Renegades with the ball this season.
Australia A player Brendan Doggett has moved from the Strikers. He is handy in the shortest format but is unlikely to be as dominant as Behrendorff has been in the BBL thus far.
Their bowling attack is rounded out by Australia's first-choice white-ball spinner, Adam Zampa, meaning the 'Gades have put together a somewhat respectable bowling attack.
The Renegades' batting stocks look weak. Jake Fraser-McGurk is a stand-out name in their current list, but has been suffering a lean run with the bat as of late. Pakistani international Muhammad Rizwan is likely to be a force to be reckoned with when batting. However, beyond him, it's unclear where the Renegades are going to find consistent runs this season.
Former Australian white-ball player Kane Richardson is currently uncontracted, with his future unclear.
Ultimately, with little batting firepower, it seems unlikely the Renegades will have any real chance of challenging for a finals finish this season.
6. Sydney Thunder (BBL|14 position: 3rd)
The Thunder's squad is inarguably strong and reasonably similar to the one that took them to the final last season.
They are led by one of the best opening batters Australia has ever produced in David Warner, who will be partnered by new-generation Australian opener Sam Konstas (should he not be preoccupied with international duty).
Warner and Konstas are also accompanied by talented batters Cameron Bancroft and Englishman Sam Billings.
Chris Green has been a strong spinner for the Thunder for multiple seasons, and Tanveer Sangha is another promising leg-spinning prospect for Australia's white-ball sides. Meanwhile, Daniel Sams has consistently been one of the best all-rounders in the league.
The Thunder's pace bowling attack does leave a bit to be desired, however. They have a solid international paceman in New Zealand's Lockie Ferguson, but he was only available for six games last season, and it's unclear how long he will be able to play this season. They lack an imposing quick like other teams that are higher on this prediction.
Their batting lineup could be prone to collapse if key players don't perform and/or Konstas is absent due to selection in the Test team.
5. Melbourne Stars (BBL|14 position: 4th)
The Stars, by no means, have a bad squad this season, but we think it's unlikely their fortunes, as the only BBL franchise not to win the title, are going to change this season.
The Stars are filled with talented all-rounders, including Hilton Cartwright, Tom Curran and the ageing Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell.
Aside from Curran, their bowling attack is somewhat unconvincing. Mark Steketee has proven he can perform in the Big Bash, and Peter Siddle is still bowling fast despite now being over 40 years old. Meanwhile, leg-spinner Mitch Swepson is a handy addition. Scott Boland is in the squad, but it's unlikely he will regularly feature.
"Respectable" is what you would call this bowling attack. There isn't a clear weak link, and every bowler will likely pull their weight, but compared to other squads, this attack simply isn't as imposing.
With the bat, the Stars will be heavily reliant on Maxwell and Stoinis and if they fail to fire they could be in all sorts.
The Stars could push for a finals finish, but it's likely other teams will be more genuine contenders this season.
4. Perth Scorchers (BBL|14 position: 5th)
The Scorchers just sneak into finals qualification. Almost every BBL season, without fail, the Scorchers are a force to be reckoned with. They are by far the most successful BBL team, winning the competition five times.
BBL|14 was a disappointing outing for the Scorchers, however, and their bowling attack has taken a significant hit since the end of last season.
Lance Morris has recently opted to undergo back surgery, which will leave him sidelined for the entirety of BBL|15. Jason Behrendorff has moved on to the Renegades, and Andrew Tye is uncontracted.
Without these three key frontline quicks, the Scorchers will be heavily reliant on Jhye Richardson to lead their bowling attack. Richardson is himself injury-prone, and it is possible he could miss games due to international duty.
Joel Paris has been signed from the Stars but lacks the experience of Behrendorff or the raw pace of Morris.
Suddenly, the Scorchers find themselves with a relatively inexperienced bowling attack, despite the frightening potential of their list should all players be fit and firing.
It's not all doom and gloom for the Scorchers. Core players Ashton Agar, Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie and Ashton Turner will all come back for this season. Australian T20 captain Mitch Marsh also returns, likely for the full season, considering it is unlikely he will feature for the Test team.
The damage done to the Scorcher's bowling attack could prove to be fatal, but it feels foolish to write them off and place them outside the top four.
3. Sydney Sixers (BBL|14 position: 2nd)
The Sydney Sixers are another consistent performer in the BBL, and it's likely that won't be any different this season.
The Sixers have retained multiple core players from their second-place finish last season, including Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Josh Philippe, Moises Henriques, Steve Smith and Jordan Silk.
They've also made a significant step to further improve their squad by signing Babar Azam, who will be available for the entirety of the season.
When Smith returns from international duty, the Sixers will boast two modern-day greats in their batting line-up that will likely cause headaches for opposition bowlers.
Despite the strength of their squad, key contributors Kurtis Patterson and Hayden Kerr remain uncontracted.
It was tempting to put the Sixers higher; however, it does feel like their bowling attack could be a touch stronger.
Todd Murphy is arguably the second-best spinner in Australia with the red ball, but hasn't exactly set the world alight in the shortest format. Sean Abbott and Ben Dwarshuis are rotation players in Australia's white-ball squads and are proven wicket-takers. At the same time, both are prone to poor performances and can bleed runs.
Englishman Sam Curran, then, will prove to be a valuable addition to the Sixers' pace attack but will only be available for four to six regular-season games (he will be available should the Sixers make the finals).
It wouldn't be surprising if the Sixers finish higher or even win the competition, but for now, we have them in third place.
2. Brisbane Heat (BBL|14 position: 7th)
Considering they finished second-last in BBL|14 it may be a bit outlandish putting the Heat down to finish second, but they do have one of the most balanced squads in the competition.
Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson and Michael Neser will all be returning to the Heat next season. These three quicks alone pose quite the threat at Big Bash level. However, the Heat have also taken on board the world-class quick Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Afridi, like the other Pakistani players involved in the BBL|15, will be available for the duration of the season, meaning the Heat's bowling attack will be formidable.
The Heat also boast a solid batting line-up, re-signing Matt Renshaw despite interest from rival clubs. Nathan McSweeney, Kiwi Colin Munro and Jimmy Peirson will feature regularly for the Heat this season.
Test players Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne are contracted to the Heat. Whilst they're not necessarily white-ball specialists, they will be welcome additions when they return from international duty.
The Heat have lost leg-spinner Mitch Swepson to the Stars, but Matt Kuhnemann remains. Whilst parts of their squad are stronger than others, the Heat don't really have a weak point. They may have finished second-last in BBL|14, but their team is relatively similar to the one that went all the way in BBL|13.
1. Hobart Hurricanes (BBL|14 position: 1st)
Admittedly, picking last year's champions to finish first again is somewhat predictable. Back-to-back winners are also not too uncommon in the BBL. The Scorchers have achieved this feat twice (2013/14, 2014/15, 2021/22, and 2022/23), while the Sixers have accomplished it once (2019/20, 2020/21).
Put simply, the Hurricanes squad is stacked with players who have long dominated the BBL and don't look like slowing down.
The Hurricanes boast the most imposing fast-bowling attack in the league with Riley Meredith, Nathan Ellis and international Chris Jordan. Nathan Ellis, their captain, is currently ranked ninth on the ICC's T20 International Men's bowling rankings.
Their batting is nothing to be scoffed at either. Mitch Owen had a breakout season in BBL|14, which included the equal-fastest BBL hundred in the final. Owen impressed on his T20 International debut in the Caribbean in the Australian winter.
Australian T20 star Tim David returns and is also in form, whilst Ben McDermott remains one of the most damaging BBL batsmen in recent memory. The Hurricanes will also benefit from the presence of former Australian white-ball 'keeper Matthew Wade.
The Hurricanes have picked up English spinner Rehan Ahmed and Bangladeshi spinner Rishad Hossain to round out their bowling attack.
Whilst Caleb Jewell was lost to the Renegades, the Hurricanes have taken on board Beau Webster and Jake Weatherald, who has been in form in Shield cricket.
It's hard to look past the strength of this team and therefore, we predict the Hurricanes will finish on top of the BBL|15 ladder.
