Big Bash League 2024-25 preview: Schedule, format, dates, winners list, players to watch & how to follow on BBC
Although most teams prioritised English talent, there are plenty more overseas players to look out for.
After making a lasting impression for Heat last year at the top of the order, New Zealand batter Colin Munro has returned, while Scorchers signed his fellow Kiwi Finn Allen.
Pace bowler Lockie Ferguson was picked up by Thunder, while wicketkeeper Tim Seifert bagged a two-year deal with Renegades as they look to improve on finishing seventh last season.
Paine recruited West Indies spinner Fabian Allen for Strikers, as they look to go one step further this year, after a defeat in the Challenger in 2023-24. Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein and Sherfane Rutherford were signed by Hurricanes, Sixers & Thunder respectively.
Many Pakistan players put themselves forward for the draft, but leg-spinner Usama Mir was the only one to be picked, as he returns to Stars after picking up five wickets in five games last season. Hassan Khan has signed as a replacement, but Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan and Fakhar Zaman are among those to miss out.
Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain was set to become the second Bangladesh player to feature in the BBL but he has opted to play in the Bangladesh Premier League instead.
Australia’s Test players will only be able to feature in the latter stages of the regular season because of their five-Test series against India, which is set to finish on 7 January. That means there will be a 10-day window to play in the group stage.
Australia begin a two-Test tour of Sri Lanka from 29 January so players are unlikely to be available for the knockouts.
Khawaja is listed as Heat’s captain, while Nathan Lyon is contracted to Renegades, Travis Head to Strikers and Mitchell Marsh to Scorchers. Nathan McSweeney’s promotion to the Test side also leaves Heat without one of their top batters.
Pat Cummins has signed as a “supplementary” player at Thunder and Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood at Sixers but all are “unlikely” to play, but will “support off-field activities”.
White-ball regulars Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Sean Abbott and Adam Zampa should be available throughout.
