Get up to speed on everything you need to know before the KFC Big Bash League gets underway
BBL|07: All you need to know
When does it start?
Tuesday night, December 19! Once again, the KFC BBL will kick off with the Sydney Smash as the Thunder host Sydney at Spotless Stadium from 7.40pm local time. The match is sold out, the atmosphere will be pumping and if you're not attending, you can tune in live and free on Network TEN or livestream via the CA Live app (more on that below). There are even more opportunities to get involved with BBL|07 this year than ever before, with an additional eight matches to be played. That's right, a total of 43 matches across 47 days culminating in the final on Sunday, February 4. Check out the full fixture HERE.
Where will it be played?
A total of 12 locations around the country will be host to BBL matches this year, with regular season fixtures to be played in Canberra, Alice Springs, Geelong and Launceston in addition to the usual suspects – the MCG, SCG, Adelaide Oval, #TheFurnace, the Gabba, Etihad Stadium, Spotless Stadium and Blundstone Arena.
Who won last year?
In last year's final, the Perth Scorchers toppled the Sydney Sixers to claim a remarkable third title from six editions of the Big Bash League. Can anyone stop Justin Langer's team this year?
Who's playing?
The eight teams have been busy building their lists during the off-season and new international faces this year include Afghanistan's Rashid Khan, South Africa's Colin Ingram and Pakistan's Shadab Khan alongside returning imports such as Kevin Pietersen and Brendon McCullum. Here's how every list is shaping up – and find out who the great Ricky Ponting is tipping to soar and sink in BBL|07.
ADELAIDE STRIKERS
The squad: Wes Agar, Alex Carey, Michael Cormack, Jono Dean, Daniel Drew, David Grant, Travis Head, Colin Ingram (SAf), Ben Laughlin, Jake Lehmann, Rashid Khan (Afg), Michael Neser, Liam O’Connor, Peter Siddle, Billy Stanlake, Jake Weatherald, Jonathan Wells, Nick Winter.
Ins: Michael Cormack, Daniel Drew, David Grant, Colin Ingram (SAf), Rashid Khan (Afg), Peter Siddle (Renegades), Jonathan Wells (Hurricanes), Nick Winter (Renegades).
Outs: Ben Dunk (Stars), Brad Hodge, Jon Holland (both Renegades), Chris Jordan (ENG), Tim Ludeman (Renegades), Kieron Pollard (Renegades), Kane Richardson (Renegades), Craig Simmons (unsigned), Kelvin Smith (unsigned).
Read the full Strikers team preview HERE
Ricky Ponting's prediction: Fourth
BRISBANE HEAT
Squad: Max Bryant, Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Brendan Doggett, Jason Floros, Cameron Gannon, Sam Heazlett, Shadab Khan (PAK), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Lalor, Chris Lynn, Brendon McCullum (NZ, c), Jimmy Peirson, Matt Renshaw, Alex Ross, Yasir Shah* (PAK), Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, Cameron Valente. * International replacement player
Ins: Max Bryant, Brendan Doggett, Shadab Khan (Pakistan), Matt Renshaw, Cameron Valente, Yasir Shah (Pakistan, replacement)
Outs: Samuel Badree (WI), Andrew Fekete (Thunder), Luke Feldman (unsigned), Nathan Reardon (Hurricanes), Alex Doolan (Hurricanes), Jack Wildermuth (Renegades), Tymal Mills (Hurricanes).
Read the full Heat team preview HERE
Ricky Ponting's prediction: Third
HOBART HURRICANES
Squad: George Bailey (c), Jofra Archer (WI), Cameron Boyce, Dan Christian, Alex Doolan*, Hamish Kingston, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Simon Milenko, Tymal Mills (Eng), Tim Paine, Nathan Reardon*, Jake Reed, Sam Rainbird, Tom Rogers, Clive Rose, D'Arcy Short, Matthew Wade. *Local replacement player
BBL Fantasy preview: Hurricanes
Ins: Jofra Archer (WI), Alex Doolan (Heat), Tymal Mills (Eng), Tom Rogers, Riley Meredith, Nathan Reardon (Heat), Matt Wade (Renegades, trade). NOTE: Tom Curran (Eng) was in but then called-up to Test squad, David Moody (WA) was signed before getting injured.
Outs: James Bazley, Stuart Broad (Eng), Dom Michael (unsigned), Kumar Sangakkara (SL), Shaun Tait (retired), Beau Webster (Renegades, trade), Jonathan Wells (Strikers)
Read the full Hurricanes team preview HERE
Ricky Ponting's prediction: Sixth
MELBOURNE RENEGADES
Squad: Dwayne Bravo (WI), Tom Cooper, Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris, Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg, Jon Holland, Tim Ludeman, Joe Mennie, Mohammad Nabi (Afg), Kieron Pollard* (WI), James Pattinson, Kane Richardson, Matt Short, Will Sutherland (rookie), Chris Tremain, Guy Walker. Beau Webster, Cameron White, Jack Wildermuth. *International replacement player
BBL Fantasy preview: Renegades
Ins: Tim Ludeman (Strikers), Kane Richardson (Strikers), Jack Wildermuth (Heat), Brad Hodge, Jon Holland (both Strikers), Joe Mennie (Sixers), Mohammad Nabi (Afg), Kieron Pollard (Strikers), Will Sutherland (rookie), Beau Webster (Hurricanes, trade).
Outs: Tom Beaton (unsigned), Xavier Doherty (unsigned), Callum Ferguson (Thunder), Sunil Narine (WI, personal reasons), Peter Nevill (Sixers), Nathan Rimmington (unsigned), Peter Siddle (Strikers), Matt Wade (Hurricanes, trade), Nick Winter (Strikers).
Read the full Renegades team preview HERE
Ricky Ponting's prediction: Champions
MELBOURNE STARS
Squad: Michael Beer, Scott Boland, Jackson Coleman, Ben Dunk, James Faulkner, Seb Gotch, Evan Gulbis, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, John Hastings (c), Ben Hilfenhaus, Glenn Maxwell, Kevin Pietersen (ENG), Rob Quiney, Marcus Stoinis, Dan Worrall, Luke Wright (ENG), Adam Zampa
Ins: Jackson Coleman (upgrade), Ben Dunk (Strikers)
Outs: David Hussey (retired), Tom Triffitt
Read the full Stars team preview HERE
Ricky Ponting's prediction: Seventh
PERTH SCORCHERS
Squad: Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Johnson, Michael Klinger, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Joel Paris, Jhye Richardson, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Adam Voges (c), Sam Whiteman, David Willey (ENG)
BBL Fantasy preview: Scorchers
Ins: Cameron Green, Josh Inglis
Outs: Ian Bell, James Muirhead
Read the full Scorchers team preview HERE
Ricky Ponting's prediction: Runners-up
SYDNEY SIXERS
The squad: Squad: Sean Abbott, Sam Billings (ENG), Jackson Bird, Doug Bollinger, Johan Botha, Harry Conway*, Ben Dwarshuis, Mickey Edwards, Jack Edwards (rookie), Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Peter Nevill, Steve O’Keefe, Jason Roy (ENG), Daniel Sams*, Jordan Silk, Mitchell Starc, Henry Thornton. *Local replacement players
Ins: Peter Nevill (Renegades), Henry Thornton (upgrade)
Outs: Ryan Carters (retired), Brad Haddin (retired), Michael Lumb (retired), Joe Mennie (Renegades), Doug Bollinger, Josh Hazlewood
Read the full Sixers team preview HERE
Ricky Ponting's prediction: Sixth
SYDNEY THUNDER
The squad: Squad: Fawad Ahmed, Aiden Blizzard, Jos Buttler (ENG), Pat Cummins, Callum Ferguson, Ryan Gibson, Chris Green, Liam Hatcher, Usman Khawaja, Jay Lenton, Nathan McAndrew*, Mitchell McClenaghan (NZ), Clint McKay, Arjun Nair, Kurtis Patterson, Ben Rohrer, Gurinder Sandhu, Shane Watson. *Local replacement player
Ins: Jos Buttler (ENG), Andrew Fekete (Heat), Mitchell McClenaghan (NZ), Callum Ferguson (Renegades), Liam Hatcher (rookie).
Outs: Andre Russell (suspended), Carlos Brathwaite, Jake Doran, Nathan McAndrew, Alister McDermott, Eoin Morgan, James Vince (all unsigned).
Read the full Thunder team preview HERE
Ricky Ponting's prediction: Eighth
How do I tune in?
For fans in Australia, every match will be shown live on Network Ten around the country with streaming available to Live Pass subscribers on cricket.com.au and via the Cricket Australia Live app.
Radio coverage will be provided by the Macquarie Radio Network for every match with fans able to listen for free on the CA Live app and in the cricket.com.au Match Centre.
How do I go to a game?
Easy. Just click here. You won't regret it!
Is there a BBL Fantasy competition?
There sure is. It's simple, fun and helps you get to know all the players. Sign up for it here.
How do I know who the best players are?
There a ton of talent on show and those who perform well in BBL|07 will be rewarded with a place near the top of the Official BBL Player Rankings.
The Rankings, devised by esteemed Bond University Professor Steven Stern – the man who also lends his name to the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method used for recalculating rain-affected run chase targets – in conjunction with Cricket Australia, separates batters, bowlers and allrounders.
This summer, the Rankings are back and better than ever, with weightings of past performances tweaked slightly to provide fans with the most accurate representation of player performance possible. Check them out here!
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