ADELAIDE STRIKERS
Previous season: Fourth, challenger final
Key player: Chris Lynn. Boasts the most runs in BBL history, and will be aiming to dazzle crowds like he has done in the past.
With Travis Head and Alex Carey tied up on Test duties, plenty of the heavy lifting is set to fall to the likes of Lynn, D’Arcy Short and Matt Short under new coach Tim Paine.
BRISBANE HEAT
Previous season: Champions
Key player: Colin Munro. The Kiwi star thrives on bouncy wickets and is a proven performer in the BBL.
Nathan McSweeney’s Test call-up is a blow, and new coach Johan Botha will be hoping star paceman Spencer Johnson isn’t troubled too much by a niggling toe injury.
HOBART HURRICANES
Previous season: Fifth
Key player: Tim David. The master blaster will be desperate to bounce back from last season’s disappointment when he scored just 112 runs from nine innings.
Still without a BBL title, the Hurricanes are hungry for success and will need a big return from imports Shai Hope and Chris Jordan.
MELBOURNE RENEGADES
Previous season: Seventh
Key player: Jake Fraser-McGurk. The 22-year-old blaster can single-handedly win games.
First year as coach for Cameron White who will call on imports Tim Seifert and Jacob Bethell to replace the retired Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh.
MELBOURNE STARS
Previous season: Sixth
Key player: Tom Curran. The experienced England allrounder has joined from the Sixers.
Marcus Stoinis will skipper the side after Glenn Maxwell stepped aside, while some fireworks are likely from England ‘Bazball’ opener Ben Duckett.
PERTH SCORCHERS
Previous season: Third, knock-out final
Key player: Finn Allen. The NZ opener has been lighting it up in Scorchers practice matches, but can he now do it on the big stage?
Bowling has always been the Scorchers’ strength, and it will be no different this season with the likes of Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, AJ Tye, Jason Behrendorff and Ashton Agar up their sleeve.
SYDNEY SIXERS
Previous season: Runner-up
Key player: Ben Dwarshuis. The left-arm quick was the third-highest wicket-taker last season with 17 scalps at an economy of 7.04.
A settled squad featuring mainstays Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott and Josh Philippe, while Steve Smith has recommitted for three seasons.
SYDNEY THUNDER
Previous season: Eighth
Key player: David Warner. The 38-year-old will play his first full BBL season after retiring from internationals.
Won just one game in 2023/24 but picked up Kiwi quick Lockie Ferguson at the draft and have the services of much-hyped youngster Sam Konstas.
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