The Big Bash League (BBL) is set to return for its 14th season, and fans across Australia are eagerly awaiting the start of the action. The new season will get underway on December 15, 2024, with the match between Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Stars at Perth Stadium, Perth. Eight teams are set to play in the competition over the next six weeks. 

The tournament will go on until January 27, with group stage matches ending on January 19. There will be no matches on December 24 and 25 due to Christmas celebrations. There will be 40 group-stage matches, with each team playing 10 games. The Qualifier will be held on January 21 followed by Knockout and Challenger on January 22 and 24 respectively. The final will be held on January 27. 

The eight teams are: Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars, Perth Scorchers, Sydney Sixers, Sydney Thunder.

As the competition heats up, Brisbane Heat will enter the 14th season of BBL as the defending champions, having clinched the title in a thrilling finale last season. Meanwhile, the spotlight will be on Melbourne Stars who will be hoping to clinch the elusive title. There is huge pressure on Stars as they hope to get off to a good start under new skipper Marcus Stoinis, who was appointed ahead of the new season after Glenn Maxwell stepped down at the end of last season. 

Brisbane Heat Squad: Squad Tom Alsop, Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Spencer Johnson, Usman Khawaja (c), Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan McSweeney, Colin Munro, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Will Prestwidge, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson, Callum Vidler, Paul Walter, Jack Wildermuth, Jack Wood

Hobart Hurricanes Squad: Iain Carlisle, Nikhil Chaudhary, Tim David, Paddy Dooley, Jake Doran, Nathan Ellis (c), Peter Hatzoglou, Shai Hope, Waqar Salamkheil, Caleb Jewell, Chris Jordan, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Billy Stanlake, Matthew Wade, Charlie Wakim, Mac Wright

Melbourne Renegades Squad: Jacob Bethell, Josh Brown, Xavier Crone, Harry Dixon, Laurie Evans, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Marcus Harris, Mackenzie Harvey, Hassan Khan, Nathan Lyon, Fergus O'Neill, Kane Richardson, Tom Rogers, Gurinder Sandhu, Tim Seifert, Will Sutherland (c), Jon Wells, Adam Zampa

Melbourne Stars Squad: Scott Boland, Hilton Cartwright, Joe Clarke, Brody Couch, Tom Curran, Ben Duckett, Sam Harper, Campbell Kellaway, Glenn Maxwell, Hamish McKenzie, Jon Merlo, Adam Milne, Usama Mir, Joel Paris, Tom Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mark Steketee, Marcus Stoinis (c), Doug Warren, Beau Webster.

Perth Scorchers Squad: Ashton Agar, Finn Allen, Mahli Beardman, Jason Behrendorff, Cooper Connolly, Sam Fanning, Aaron Hardie, Nick Hobson, Matthew Hurst, Josh Inglis, Keaton Jennings, Matt Kelly, Mitch Marsh, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Matthew Spoors, Ashton Turner (c), Andrew Tye

Sydney Sixers Squad: Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Jafer Chohan, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques (c), Akeal Hosein, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Ben Manenti, Todd Murphy, Kurtis Patterson, Mitch Perry, Josh Philippe, Jordan Silk, Steven Smith, James Vince

Sydney Thunder Squad: Wes Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Sam Billings, Ollie Davies, Lockie Ferguson, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Liam Hatcher, Sam Konstas, Nic Maddinson, Nathan McAndrew, Sherfane Rutherford, William Salzmann, Daniel Sams, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, David Warner (c)