Australian Big Bash League 2024-25 is ready to begin. It is the 14th edition of the Australian T20 cricket league. This tournament will run between December 15, 2024, and January 27, 2025. Eight teams are set to participate in the BBL 2024-25. These teams are Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat, Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars, Hobart Hurricanes, Perth Scorchers, Sydney Sixers, and Sydney Thunder.

Brisbane Heat are set to start the BBL 2024-25 as the defending champions. They won the BBL 2023-24 title, which was their second BBL trophy success after winning the 2012-13 edition.  

See Also: Big Bash League 2024-25: Complete fixtures and timings

BBL 2024-25: Previous records 

Champions

 Runners-up

BBL 2024-25: Timeline and Formats

The 14th edition of the Big Bash League (BBL 2024-25) will run from December 15, 2024, to January 27, 2025. The BBL 2024-25 will start with a round-robin system. Each team will play 10 matches in the league stage, facing three teams twice and four others once. At the end of the league stage, the top four teams will advance to the Finals Series. While the top two teams will face each other in the Qualifier, the next two teams will compete in the Knockout. 

While the winners of the Qualifier will advance to the Final, the losers of the Qualifier will face the winners of the Knockout in the Challenger. The Challenger winners will then face the Qualifier winners in the Final of the tournament on January 27. The winners of the Final will lift the trophy.  

BBL 2024-25: Venues

A total of 11 venues will host the entire BBL 2024-25:

Adelaide Oval (Adelaide)

The Gabba (Brisbane)

Manuka Oval (Canberra)

C.ex Coffs International Stadium (Coffs Harbour)

GMHBA Stadium (Geelong)

Ninja Stadium (Hobart)

Optus Stadium (Perth)

Marvel Stadium (Melbourne)

Melbourne Cricket Ground (Melbourne)

ENGIE Stadium (Sydney)

Sydney Cricket Ground (Sydney)

BBL 2024-25: Head coaches

Adelaide Strikers: Tim Paine

Brisbane Heat: Johan Botha

Hobart Hurricanes: Jeff Vaughan

Melbourne Renegades: Cameron White

Melbourne Stars: Peter Moores

Perth Scorchers: Adam Voges

Sydney Sixers: Greg Shipperd

Sydney Thunder: Trevor Bayliss

BBL 2024-25: Captains

Adelaide Strikers: Matthew Short

Brisbane Heat: Usman Khawaja

Hobart Hurricanes: Matthew Wade

Melbourne Renegades: Will Sutherland

Melbourne Stars: Marcus Stoinis

Perth Scorchers: Ashton Turner

Sydney Sixers: Moises Henriques

Sydney Thunder: David Warner

BBL 2024-25: Squads 

Adelaide Strikers

Fabian Allen, James Bazley, Cameron Boyce, Jordan Buckingham, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Travis Head, Thomas Kelly, Chris Lynn, Harry Nielsen, Jamie Overton, Lloyd Pope, Ollie Pope, Alex Ross, D'Arcy Short, Matt Short, Henry Thornton, Jake Weatherald

Brisbane Heat

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

Hobart Hurricanes

Iain Carlisle, Nikhil Chaudhary, Tim David, Paddy Dooley, Jake Doran, Nathan Ellis, Peter Hatzoglou, Shai Hope, Caleb Jewell, Chris Jordan, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Waqar Salamkheil, Billy Stanlake, Matthew Wade, Charlie Wakim, Mac Wright

Melbourne Renegades

Jacob Bethell, Josh Brown, Xavier Crone, Harry Dixon, Laurie Evans, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Marcus Harris, Mackenzie Harvey, Nathan Lyon, Fergus O'Neill, Kane Richardson, Tom Rogers, Gurinder Sandhu, Tim Seifert, Will Sutherland, Jon Wells, Adam Zampa, Hassan Khan

Melbourne Stars

Scott Boland, Hilton Cartwright, Brody Couch, Tom Curran, Ben Duckett, Sam Harper, Campbell Kellaway, Glenn Maxwell, Hamish McKenzie, Jon Merlo, Usama Mir, Joel Paris, Tom Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mark Steketee, Marcus Stoinis, Doug Warren, Beau Webster, Joe Clarke, Adam Milne

Perth Scorchers

Ashton Agar, Finn Allen, Mahli Beardman, Jason Behrendorff, Cooper Connolly, Sam Fanning, Aaron Hardie, Nick Hobson, Matthew Hurst, Josh Inglis, Keaton Jennings, Matt Kelly, Mitch Marsh, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Matthew Spoors, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye

Sydney Sixers

Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Jafer Chohan, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques, Akeal Hosein, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Ben Manenti, Todd Murphy, Kurtis Patterson, Mitch Perry, Josh Philippe, Jordan Silk, Steve Smith, James Vince

Sydney Thunder

Wes Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Sam Billings, Ollie Davies, Lockie Ferguson, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Ryan Hadley, Liam Hatcher, Sam Konstas, Nic Maddinson, Nathan McAndrew, Sherfane Rutherford, William Salzmann, Daniel Sams, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, David Warner 

The 35-year-old Marcus Stoinis is all set to become the next captain for Melbourne Stars in the forthcoming Big Bash League (BBL) season. The swashbuckling all-rounder will replace the long-standing skipper Glenn Maxwell who had resigned last season at the end of the supper. 

Stoinis has previously captained Stars in Maxwell's absence in the 2023 BBL season. In the absence of Maxwell from the 2022-23 BBL season, Stoinis emerged as the front-runner to being an interim captain but that role was later handed to Adam Zampa. 

See also: 'Good to see him working on the game' - Harbhajan Singh on Virat Kohli

What does Stoinis have to say about this new role as a Stars' captain?

Stoinis is the second player after Maxwell to feature in 100 BBL games for Melbourne Stars. He has been associated with the franchise for an eternity and his association will further deepen following his three-year contract extension which confirms his availability till the 2026-27 season. 

Therefore, it comes as no surprise, that Stoinis was thrilled to hear this news. Being a devoted servant to his franchise, Stoinis expressed his joy while taking over the leadership role and looks forward to contributing to his team's success in the long run.

"I had a little bit of a taste of captaining the side in Maxi's absence last year and loved the opportunity so to be given the role full-time is a great honour. The Stars have been such a constant in my life every summer for the last 10 years and I truly believe that the group we have assembled both on and off the field can bring some long overdue success to the club."

Blair Crouch has his say on Stoinis' appointment as Stars skipper

While thanking the departing skipper Maxwell for his contributions, Melbourne Stars general manager Blair Crouch showered praise on the 35-year-old all-rounder and feels fortunate to have someone as like him as a captain who has been around for the franchise since it's inception. 

"First of all, I want to acknowledge and thank Glenn Maxwell for all his efforts in leading the side over the past five seasons and he will continue to be a wonderful resource for everyone at the club. Marcus demonstrated his leadership ability last year and has been a senior member of the side for a long time. It's wonderful to have someone who has been at the Stars almost from our inception lead our club in BBL14."

Stoinis will have some serious work to do once he takes over from Maxwell officially. The current Melbourne Starts lineup is missing some big names and is expected to lack a lot of firepower at the beginning of the season. It remains unclear as to when Maxwell will return from his hamstring injury but he will most certainly be out of action from the first match of the season at least. 

The excitement is building as Cricket Australia (CA) has announced the schedule for the Big Bash League (BBL) Season 14. Set to bring thrilling cricket action to fans across the country, the season will be held from December 2024 to January 2025.

Schedule overview

The BBL Season 14 will feature a total of 44 matches, which is 17 fewer than the previous edition. This streamlined schedule aims to maintain the intensity and quality of the competition. The regular season is set to begin on December 15 and will run until January 19.

See Also: Cricket world pays tribute to James Anderson on his retirement from Test cricket

Following this, the finals series, known for its nail-biting encounters, will commence on January 21 and conclude with the grand final on January 27, a national public holiday in Australia.

• Regular Season Start: December 15, 2024
• Regular Season End: January 19, 2025
• Finals Series: January 21 – January 27, 2025

Opening matches

The BBL 14 season kicks off with a bang at Optus Stadium where the Perth Scorchers will face the Melbourne Stars. The excitement continues with the Sydney Sixers hosting the Melbourne Renegades in the second match of the tournament on Monday, December 16. These opening matches set the stage for what promises to be an electrifying season.

Double headers

Six double headers are scheduled throughout the season, providing fans with back-to-back cricket action. These matches are a highlight for cricket enthusiasts, offering a feast of cricket in a single day. The double headers are strategically placed to maximize viewership and ensure that fans get the most out of their BBL experience.

Impact of India vs Australia Test series

The upcoming season will coincide with the prestigious India vs Australia Test series, also known as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. During this period, 14 BBL matches will be held. However, the BBL may potentially feature returning Australian Test players after the series concludes on January 7. This overlap adds an extra layer of excitement as fans can expect some of their favorite Test players to make a comeback in the BBL.

The BBL matches will be held across various iconic venues in Australia, including:

• Optus Stadium
• Melbourne Cricket Ground
• Marvel Stadium
• Sydney Cricket Ground
• ENGIE Stadium

This geographic spread ensures that fans from different regions can witness the action live, promoting a nationwide celebration of cricket.

Full schedule in local time

Sunday, December 15, 2024 — Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Stars at Optus Stadium, 4:15PM

Monday, December 16, 2024 — Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Renegades at the SCG, 7.15pm

Tuesday, December 17, 2024 — Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers at Manuka Oval, 7:15pm

Wednesday, December 18, 2024 — Melbourne Stars vs Brisbane Heat at the MCG, 7:15pm

Thursday, December 19, 2024 — Melbourne Renegades vs Hobart Hurricanes at GMHBA Stadium, 7.15pm

Friday, December 20, 2024 — Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars at Adelaide Oval, 6.45pm

Saturday, December 21, 2024 — Hobart Hurricanes vs Perth Scorchers at Blundstone Arena, 4pm

Saturday, December 21, 2024 — Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers at ENGIE Stadium, 7.15pm

Sunday, December 22, 2024 — Brisbane Heat vs Adelaide Strikers at the Gabba, 6.15pm

Monday, December 23, 2024 — Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers at Marvel Stadium, 7:15pm

Thursday, December 26, 2024 — Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Stars at the SCG, 6.05pm

Thursday, December 26, 2024 — Perth Scorchers vs Brisbane Heat at Optus Stadium, 6:15pm

Friday, December 27, 2024 — Adelaide Strikers vs Hobart Hurricanes at Adelaide Oval, 6:45pm

Saturday, December 28, 2024 — Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder at Manuka Oval, 7:15PM

Sunday, December 29, 2024 — Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixers at the Gabba, 6:15pm

Monday, December 30, 2024 — Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Renegades at ENGIE Stadium, 7:15PM

Tuesday, December 31, 2024 — Adelaide Strikers vs Perth Scorchers at Adelaide Oval, 6:45pm

Wednesday, January 1, 2025 — Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Sixers, Blundstone Arena, 4pm

Wednesday, January 1, 2025 — Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Stars at the Gabba, 6:15pm

Thursday, January 2, 2025 — Melbourne Renegades vs Adelaide Strikers at Marvel Stadium, 7:15pm

Friday, January 3, 2025 — Sydney Sixers vs Brisbane Heat at C.ex Coffs International Stadium, 6:05pm

Friday, January 3, 2025 — Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Thunder at Optus Stadium, 6.15pm

Saturday, January 4, 2025 — Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades at the MCG, 7:15pm

Sunday, January 5, 2025 — Hobart Hurricanes vs Adelaide Strikers at Blundstone Arena, 7:15pm

Monday, January 6, 2025 — Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder at the Gabba, 6.15pm

Tuesday, January 7, 2025 — Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Renegades at Optus Stadium, 4.15pm

Wednesday, January 8, 2025 — Sydney Thunder vs Hobart Hurricanes at ENGIE Stadium, 7:15pm

Thursday, January 9, 2025 — Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Sixers at the MCG, 7:15pm

Friday, January 10, 2025 — Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder at Blundstone Arena, 7:15pm

Saturday, January 11, 2025 — Sydney Sixers vs Perth Scorchers at the SCG, 4:45pm

Saturday, January 11, 2025 — Adelaide Strikers vs Brisbane Heat at Adelaide Oval, 7:30pm

Sunday, January 12, 2025 — Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars at Marvel Stadium, 7:15pm

Monday, January 13, 2025 — Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers at ENGIE Stadium, 7:30pm

Tuesday, January 14, 2025 — Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Renegades, Blundstone Arena, 7:30pm

Wednesday, January 15, 2025 — Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Sixers at Adelaide Oval, 7pm

Thursday, January 16, 2025 — Brisbane Heat vs Hobart Hurricanes at the Gabba, 6.30pm

Friday, January 17, 2025 — Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunder at the SCG, 7:15pm

Saturday, January 18, 2025 — Melbourne Renegades vs Brisbane Heat at Marvel Stadium, 5pm

Saturday, January 18, 2025 — Perth Scorchers vs Adelaide Strikers at Optus Stadium, 5.15pm

Sunday, January 19, 2025 — Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes at the MCG, 7.15pm

Tuesday, January 21, 2025 — The Qualifier (TBC)

Wednesday, January 22, 2025 — The Knockout (TBC)

Friday, January 24, 2025 — The Challenger (TBC)

Monday, January 27, 2025 — The Final (TBC)

Tuesday, January 28, 2025 — Reserve Day (TBC)