The 2024-25 Big Bash League season or BBL|14 will be the fourteenth season of the Big Bash League (BBL), the professional men's Twenty20 domestic cricket competition in Australia. The tournament will be played from 15 December 2024, with the final scheduled to be held on 27 January 2025. Brisbane Heat are the defending champions. A NZ team should really have been added to provide some vigor to the league, but we're unsure if that will ever happen. Here's a detailed look at this year's teams and who will be lining up.

ADELAIDE STRIKERS

Chris Lynn had recommitted for the entire BBL|14 campaign including finals. Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey has also officially recommitted to the Strikers for an additional four years, extending his tenure with the team until the conclusion of the BBL|17 season.

The new head coach, Tim Paine, will collaborate closely with him. Tim Paine assumed the top position after Jason Gillespie resigned from his positions with both Adelaide and South Australia to lead Pakistan's Test team. Paine could also have the world's No.1 ranked men's T20 batter Travis Head at his disposal for their final three games of the regular season after the all-format Aussie star re-signed on a one-year deal. The Strikers secured England Test vice-captain Ollie Pope as their pre-draft signing and speedster Henry Thornton has recommitted on a two-year deal. The organization has expanded its roster by acquiring the promising South Australian fast bowler, Jordan Buckingham. This strategic move involved trading out Wes Agar and their second-round draft pick to Sydney Thunder. As a result, Brisbane Heat improved their draft position, moving up from the 13th selection to the Thunder's 11th pick.

BRISBANE HEAT

Former South African international Johan Botha is the man appointed to lead the Heat's title defence, signing a three-year deal as head coach after Wade Seccombe didn't seek an extension to his Queensland and Brisbane Heat contracts. Botha's first move was to secure the return of Kiwi journeyman Colin Munro for another two seasons as the club's direct overseas signing. After the losses of Josh Brown to Melbourne Renegades, who was in hot demand following his 57-ball 140 to put the Heat into the final, and Sam Billings to Sydney Thunder, re-signing Munro will help keep some stability at the top of the order for the reigning champions.

Apart from Brown, the Heat locked away most of their BBL|13 title-winning squad prior to the end of last season, including Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Xavier Bartlett and Max Bryant who are all staying put until at least the end of BBL|15. They've also added Australia U19 World Cup winner Callum Vidler in a boost to their bowling stocks.

Aussie star Marnus Labuschagne has only ever played for the Heat and will return for a ninth season in BBL|14. Cult hero Paul Walter is also returning while fellow English Draft selection Tom Alsop brings a bit more middle-order grunt and can also keep wickets.

HOBART HURRICANES

The Hurricanes, a team with a consistent roster, are pleased to announce the re-signing of star England all-rounder Chris Jordan as their exclusive international signing for a two-year term. The franchise has formally announced the contract extensions for Mac Wright and Nikhil Chaudhary. Additionally, promising fast bowler Iain Carlisle has secured a new two-year agreement, further strengthening the already formidable pace attack. This reinforcement aims to secure the elusive inaugural title for the team.

Shai Hope, a prominent West Indies batsman, was the Hobart Hurricanes' inaugural selection during the recent draft. The Hurricanes have consistently sought a dependable top-order batsman in recent seasons, and Hope's acquisition aims to address this need. The arrival of the new player may enable individuals such as Ben McDermott to reposition themselves within the batting order, potentially enhancing their impact during the middle or latter stages of the innings.

The recent T20 World Cup performance of Bangladeshi leg-spinner Rishad Hossain has generated interest in his potential acquisition. However, it is crucial to assess how his skills complement those of current team members Paddy Dooley and Peter Hatzoglou to ensure a well-rounded bowling attack.

MELBOURNE RENEGADES

Cameron White has been appointed as the new head coach of the Renegades for the upcoming BBL|14 season. White has signed a three-year deal, replacing David Saker, whose contract was terminated despite having a year remaining. The Renegades finished in the bottom half of the table for the fourth time in five seasons last year, leading to Saker's departure.

It is encouraging to note that the organization has taken proactive steps to secure the future of the team by extending the contracts of promising young talents, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Will Sutherland, for four and three years, respectively. Additionally, the successful acquisition of the powerful hitter, Josh Brown, is particularly timely considering the recent retirements of esteemed players, Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh, at the conclusion of the previous season. With the addition of experienced New Zealand 'keeper-batter' Tim Seifert as their direct overseas signing on a two-year deal, and the acquisition of Laurie Evans with their platinum draft pick, the Renegades have a top order to be feared. Jacob Bethell, on the other hand, has a proven track record as a lower-order hitter. Importantly, he is a left-hander, which sets him apart from the other batters.

Additionally, the team has bolstered its bowling attack with the acquisition of experienced Queensland fast bowler Gurinder Sandhu, who joins after an 11-year stint with the Sydney Thunder. Furthermore, promising young talent Fergus O'Neill has committed to a two-year contract.

MELBOURNE STARS

World Cup-bound Aussie Marcus Stoinis has re-committed to the Stars for another three seasons and he could be in line to captain the club in BBL|14 after Glenn Maxwell announced his intention to step down from the role at the end of last season.

A big scoop for the Stars saw them lure experienced English allrounder Tom Curran – the league's third most prolific overseas bowler of all-time with 51 wickets – from the Sixers as their direct overseas signing on a two-year deal. They sprang a surprise with their No.1 pick, taking England opener Ben Duckett, who last played BBL with the Heat three seasons ago. There were positives for the Stars under new coach Peter Moores last season, winning four games on the trot after Christmas to put themselves in contention for finals.

However, three losses to finish saw them slip to sixth and miss the playoffs for a fourth straight year. Pakistan leggie Usama Mir and new recruit Hamish McKenzie bolster the spin stocks after they traded out Adam Zampa prior to last season.

PERTH SCORCHERS

Perth made a splash in August by recruiting big-hitting New Zealand opener Finn Allen as their direct overseas signing ahead of the September 1 draft on a two-year deal, with full availability. It came after Allen turned down a central contract with the Black Caps to pursue T20 franchise opportunities, and strengthens the one area where the Scorchers had been a little bit susceptible last summer. It had otherwise s been a quiet off-season for the competition's most successful club who managed to lock away most of their core players before the end of the season. Local boy Nick Hobson returns for BBL|14 as he looks to build on his success as the Scorchers finisher.

SYDNEY SIXERS

The Sixers are another club that have continuity with their list, and they received a huge boost for the future in August with Aussie superstar Steve Smith recommitting for another three seasons. The Australian opener will be available for at least three matches in BBL|14 following the conclusion of the Test summer on January 7.

They've also secured Sean Abbott, Todd Murphy, Ben Dwarshuis and Josh Philippe for another two seasons prior to the BBL|13 decider, as well emerging allrounder Jack Edwards for another three. In a big boost, two-time champion James Vince will return too, after the Sixers matched the Renegades' first-round bid for the classy opener.

SYDNEY THUNDER

A huge coup for the Thunder as they lured English star Sam Billings from the Heat for the next three seasons under the league's new multi-year contracting mechanism for overseas players. He was the first men's player to be signed under the new rule and the 32-year-old will be available for all of the next three seasons, including finals. The club beat several Big Bash rivals as well as UAE and South African T20 franchises in the race for the wicketkeeper-batter's services.

The Thunder had a great night at the Draft, recruiting Kiwi quick Lockie Ferguson at the start and locking in West Indian middle order bat Sherfane Rutherford towards the end. He also secured the key signature of Aussie great David Warner for his first full BBL season following his international retirement, while they secured the signatures of leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha and quicks Daniel Sams and Nathan McAndrew until at least the end BBL|15 during the season.

PREDICTION: Perth Scorchers to win BBL|14, up against Sydney Sixers. However teams like Brisbane Heat will not be far behind and can stake a claim early on in the season.

SUNDAY 15 - SCORCHERS v STARS

MONDAY 16 - SIXERS v RENEGADES

TUESDAY 17 - STRIKERS v THUNDER

WEDNESDAY 18 - STARS v HEAT

THURSDAY 19 - RENEGADES v HURRICANES

FRIDAY 20 - STRIKERS v STARS

SATURDAY 21 - HURRICANES v SCORCHERS

SATURDAY 21 - SIXERS v THUNDER

SUNDAY 22 - HEAT v STRIKERS

MONDAY 23 - RENEGADES v SCORCHERS

THURSDAY 26 - SIXERS v STARS

THURSDAY 26 - SCORCHERS v HEAT

FRIDAY 27 - STRIKERS v HURRICANES

SATURDAY 28 - STARS v THUNDER

SUNDAY 29 - HEAT v SIXERS

MONDAY 30 - THUNDER v RENEGADES

TUESDAY 31 - STRIKERS v SCORCHERS