BBL15 predicted teams and late mail: How every XI will line up for Big Bash
The first squads are in for the new BBL season, and the Sydney Sixers have made some big calls for the season opener. Get all the latest news plus predicted teams.
Sydney Sixers have named a 14-man squad for the first game of the BBL season.
The Sixers and Perth Scorchers open BBL|15 at Optus Stadium at 7.15pm (AEDT) on Sunday night.
The game will have a big impact on SuperCoach BBL teams, especially at the Sixers who play twice in round 1, making their stars – and cheapies – very popular fantasy picks.
Final line-ups are announced one hour before the first ball is bowled, but the squad provides some key intel as the clock counts down to the first lockout of the SuperCoach season.
The full 14-man squad is: Moises Henriques (captain), Babar Azam, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Ben Manenti, Todd Murphy, Mitch Perry, Josh Philippe, Lachlan Shaw, Charlie Stobo, Harjas Singh.
The biggest news is superstar paceman Sean Abbott has not recovered from a hamstring injury and will miss game one – although there is a chance he will be back for the Sixers’ second game.
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Abbott, the No.1 wicket-taker in BBL history, currently sits in almost 5000 SuperCoach squads. Another star fast bowler who won’t appear on Sunday night is Scorcher Jhye Richardson, who has been called up to join the Australian Test camp.
Abbott’s omission opens the door for other Sydney bowlers to take front-line roles, including SuperCoach bargain Hayden Kerr, a $100,900 BAT-BWL.
But the biggest late bolter is inexperienced quick Mitch Perry. He played two matches for the Sixers last year, claiming two wickets at an economy rate of 8.5. But we should see a lot more of him this summer – priced at just $39,500 in SuperCoach.
“We’re thrilled with Mitch. With the loss of Jackson Bird to Hobart, it’s Mitch’s time,” Sixers coach Greg Shipperd said on 91.3 Sport FM.
“He’s going to get opportunity this year. That’ll be up front. He’s been bowling beautifully in Shield cricket and one-day cricket. We think he’s going to be a terrific player for us for a long time, starting out in this first game.”
One Sydney player who enters the tournament in hot form is Josh Philippe, who smashed 89 off 20 deliveries in a warm-up game last week.
Some BBL replacement player news: Charlie Stobo to Sydney Sixers, Brisbane Heat has been looking at Liam Haskett and Tom Balkin.https://t.co/jiSR554Z8i#bbl15pic.twitter.com/oiplJHKrDu
— Daniel Cherny (@DanielCherny) December 12, 2025
EVERY BBL TEAM’S PREDICTED XI
The BBL has never had this much star power.
With Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam and Sam Curran among the internationals signed for BBL15, it is shaping as the biggest BBL tournament yet.
And that’s before you factor in the Australian stars, who will feature in the run home and finals after the Ashes.
With commitments to the Test side and other T20 franchise leagues factored in, this is how we think every side will line up to start BBL15 — and the big selection talking points.
REST OF SQUAD: Cameron Boyce, Jordan Buckingham, Alex Carey, Thomas Kelly, Mackenzie Harvey, Travis Head, Tom Straker
VACANT SPOTS: 0
THE BIG SELECTION CALL: Harvey or Ross? — Mackenzie Harvey has performed strongly in white-ball cricket since moving to South Australia as an opener. He could partner Matt Short, shuffling Chris Lynn to No.3, Jason Sangha to No.4 and Liam Scott to No.5. Tim Paine likes to play two spinners too, so Boyce could replace Henry Thornton in the team above. That would give Adelaide two spinners, four seam options (including Liam Scott) and the part-time spin of Sangha if needed.
INJURY WATCH: TBC
ASHES WATCH: Alex Carey, Travis Head Both won’t feature for the Strikers until mid-January.
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REST OF SQUAD: Lachie Hearne, Marnus Labuschagne, Jimmy Peirson, Spencer Johnson, Callum Vidler, Oli Paterson, Hugh Weibgen
VACANT SPOTS: 0
THE BIG SELECTION CALL:Hugh Weibgen, Lachie Hearne and Nathan McSweeney —You would suspect McSweeney has to play, which would squeeze out Hearne and Weibgen given Usman Khawaja looks likely to be available for the full season (should he be released from the Ashes squad).
INJURY WATCH:Spencer Johnson and Callum Vidler — Strike weapon Johnson has been ruled out of BBL15 with a back injury. Vidler went down with a stress fracture in his back in September and is unlikely to feature in this summer’s BBL, which could present an opportunity for Oli Patterson to debut.
ASHES WATCH: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Matt Renshaw — Khawaja has lost his spot in the Test side but is staying with the squad. Labuschagne won’t play until mid-January, while Renshaw is still far enough down the pecking order he should be available for the Heat.
REST OF SQUAD: Marcus Bean, Iain Carlisle, Beau Webster, Billy Stanlake, Mac Wright
VACANT SPOTS: 2
THE BIG SELECTION CALL:Who opens with Mitch Owen? Jake Weatherald was the leading run scorer in the Sheffield Shield last season but he looks set to be Travis Head’s opening partner for the rest of the Ashes. The Hurricanes preferred Matthew Wade in the middle order last season which makes Ben McDermott the most likely candidate. Beau Webster will slot in at No.3 if he’s released from the Test squad.
INJURY WATCH:Billy Stanlake, Beau Webster —Stanlake was injured in a game against NSW but was back bowling by October 20. Webster had an ankle injury earlier this summer but has been fine since late October as well.
ASHES WATCH:Jake Weatherald and Beau Webster —The Hurricanes are at the whim of the Aussie selectors, who could rob them of two members of the top six from their Best XI. Mac Wright is the batter waiting in the wings.
REST OF SQUAD: Ollie Peake, Josh Brown, Brendan Doggett, Nathan Lyon, Callum Stow, Will Salzman, Andrew Tye (injury replacement player for Salzmann).
VACANT SPOTS: 1
THE BIG SELECTION CALL: Who partners Rizwan? —Josh Brown is entering the second year of a two-year contract with the Renegades but is no certainty to start the season after Caleb Jewell’s move from Hobart. Brown averaged 20.3 in his first season as a Renegade but never found the form which made him a hero at Brisbane Heat. Only two of Ollie Peake, Harry Dixon and Hassan Khan are likely to start the season. Peake’s form likely has him ahead of Dixon in the battle for the No.5 spot.
INJURY WATCH: TBC
ASHES WATCH: Nathan Lyon— The Aussie Test tweaker signed a three-year deal with the Renegades in August, 2023, but is yet to debut in red. That’s likely to change later this summer.
REST OF SQUAD: Sam Harper, Austin Anlezark, Scott Boland, Hamish McKenzie, Mark Steketee (injured),
VACANT SPOTS: 2
THE BIG SELECTION CALL: The top order — Too much has been left to Maxwell, Stoinis and Cartwright in recent seasons. Joe Clarke’s full-time return will help, but the Stars need more from Campbell Kellaway, Tom Rogers and Sam Harper. Their squad is stacked with bowlers but looks light on for batters, so at least two of these three will likely be in the side which starts BBL15.
INJURY WATCH: Glenn Maxwell —Maxwell suffered a fractured arm in late September but won’t have any issues being ready for the BBL.
ASHES WATCH:Scott Boland — Josh Hazlewood’s injury means Boland will almost certainly be a fixture in the Australian squad for the full Ashes series.
REST OF SQUAD: Joel Paris, Bryce Jackson, Josh Inglis, Sam Fanning, David Payne (ILT20), Lance Morris, Brody Couch
VACANT SPOTS: 0
BIG SELECTION CALL: The quicks —For so long Perth’s quicks have been Jason Behrendorff, Andrew Tye and Jhye Richardson. All three might be missing at the start of BBL15. Behrendorff has joined Melbourne Renegades and Tye has not re-signed. Matt Kelly, Mahli Beardman and import David Payne should feature prominently — although Payne is only signed for 4-6 games plus finals and won’t arrive until after the ILT20.
INJURY WATCH: Lance Morris, Joel Paris, Jhye Richardson, Mahli Beardman — Morris won’t play this summer due to a back injury. Mahli Beardman had a back stress fracture mid-year but was back in Western Australia’s squad by mid-October. Richardson has been recovering from shoulder surgery and has been called into the Test squad so will miss game one. Paris suffered a hamstring injury against NSW in mid-October but returned against Victoria in an ODI clash in early December. He’ll likely need to be managed during the BBL.
ASHES WATCH: Josh Inglis, Mitch Marsh, Jhye Richardson — Inglis featured in Brisbane and although he is no certainty to play in Adelaide, he could remain with the Aussie squad.
REST OF SQUAD: Sam Curran (ILT20), Lachlan Shaw, Kane Richardson, Joel Davies, Ben Manenti, Mitch Perry, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc
VACANT SPOTS: 0
BIG SELECTION CALL:Does Daniel Hughes play? Jack Edwards has opened the batting in the BBL and could take the No. 3 spot. That would leave the Sixers stacked for bowling options. Todd Murphy or Jafer Chohan as the No. 1 spinner is a 50-50 call but both are a chance to play early before Sam Curran arrives from the ILT20.
INJURY WATCH: Sean Abbott — withdrew from the first Test squad due to a hamstring injury and hasn’t played for New South Wales since November 10. The Sixers have confirmed he won’t play in the first game of the season.
ASHES WATCH: Steve Smith, Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc — Smith won’t play until the middle of January. Starc has said he’s going to play in BBL15 but who knows if that will be the case if he’s needed to play all five of the Ashes Tests.
REST OF SQUAD: Wes Agar, Ryan Hadley, Sam Konstas, Blake Nikitaris, Aidan O’Connor, Lockie Ferguson (ILT20), Matt Gilkes, Ravi Ashwin, Nathan McAndrew
VACANT SPOTS: 0
BIG SELECTION CALL: How many spinners is too many? Chris Green is a lock and Shadab Khan is one of the best T20 all-rounders to come to the BBL. Daniel Sams at least gives the attack some flexibility if the Thunder goes in with four spinners. Tanveer Sangha or Tom Andrews will likely be squeezed out on quicker pitches, especially once Lockie Ferguson arrives after the ILT20. Englishman Reece Topley will feature until Ferguson arrives.
INJURY WATCH: Ravi Ashwin — The Indian superstar has withdrawn from BBL15 after suffering a knee injury.
ASHES WATCH: Sam Konstas —Konstas’ odds of being picked at any stage of the Ashes look remote, with talk he might even miss selection for a match against England Lions.
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