THE 2024/25 Big Bash League finals series is set to get underway on Tuesday night, with the four-match postseason determining who will be crowned this season’s champion. It comes after an epic home-and-away campaign which went down to the wire, leaving two teams yet to win a title in the hunt for their first.

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NEED TO KNOW

Watch: Channel 7, 7plus, Fox Cricket, Kayo Sports
Listen: ABC, SEN

FINALS STRUCTURE

The BBL finals structure follows on from the adjusted format of last season, whereby the top four teams qualify. A four-match postseason sees the top two ranked sides gain a second chance, while third and fourth must win three finals to take out the title. See below to for each contenders’ path to victory.

FIXTURES:

The Qualifier: Hurricanes vs. Sixers | January 21, 7:30pm @ Bellerive Oval
The Knockout: Thunder vs. Stars | January 22, 7:30pm @ ENGIE Stadium
The Challenger: Qualifier loser vs. Knockout winner | January 24, TBD
The Final: Qualifier winner vs. Challenger winner | January 27, TBD

STANDINGS

1. Hobart Hurricanes | 7-2, 1 NR | 15 points | -0.12 NRR
2. Sydney Sixers | 6-2, 2 NR | 14 points | 0.156 NRR
3. Sydney Thunder | 5-3, 2 NR | 12 points | 0.34 NRR
4. Melbourne Stars | 5-5 | 10 points | 0.135 NRR
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5. Perth Scorchers | 4-6 | 8 points | 0.219 NRR
6. Melbourne Renegades | 4-6 | 8 points, 0.139 NRR
7. Brisbane Heat | 3-6, 1 NR | 7 points | -0.831 NRR
8. Adelaide Strikers | 3-7 | 6 points | -0.122 NRR

Key: Win-Loss | N/R = no result | NRR = net run rate

THE CONTENDERS

HOBART HURRICANES

Record: 7-2, 1 NR | 15 points | -0.12 NRR
Streak: LWWWDWWWWL
Finals appearances: 6 / 14
Grand Finals/Titles: 2 / 0

The Hurricanes are one of two teams still chasing their first BBL title, and have put together a scintillating home-and-away season to signal their intentions. A seven-game winning streak was bookended by losses to start and finish the campaign, though top spot was theirs after a washout in the Sydney Smash. The Cane Train is usually full steam ahead when chasing, having won five games batting second. While captain Nathan Ellis was managed through their last game, quick Riley Meredith looks set to return.

SYDNEY SIXERS

Record: 6-2, 2 NR | 14 points | 0.156 NRR
Streak: DWWLDLWWWW
Finals appearances: 10 / 14
Grand Finals/Titles: 6 / 3

The true mainstays and most experienced side in the finals hunt, the Sixers will be looking to go one better after going down in last year’s decider. The magenta men already have three titles under their belt and know how to get it done having made the postseason in 10 of a possible 13 seasons. Having started the season 4-0, the Sixers suffered a lull but were given a timely pre-finals boost by the return of Steve Smith. He and James Vince won’t be available, but the team is wonderfully settled as usual.

SYDNEY THUNDER

Record: 5-3, 2 NR | 12 points | 0.34 NRR
Streak: DWLDLWWWLW
Finals appearances: 4 / 14
Grand Finals/Titles: 1 / 1

The Thunder have rocketed back up the charts this season after finishing bottom of the pile in 2023/24, though missed out on a top two spot to their local rivals in pink. Captain David Warner has led the revival with the second-highest run tally of the tournament, helping his side establish its place in the top rungs of the ladder with four wins in the first five games. Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams are big losses after their unfortunate on-field clash, but the pieces are there to make an impact.

MELBOURNE STARS

Record: 5-5 | 10 points | 0.135 NRR
Streak: WWWWWLLLLL
Finals appearances: 8 / 14
Grand Finals/Titles: 3 / 0

The Stars are the form team of the competition, riding a five-game win streak having not yet lost in 2025. They knocked off first place in order to book a finals spot having started the season 0-5, staring down the barrel of another failed campaign. Instead, they are well in the hunt for their maiden title in what will be their first chance at it since 2019/20. They’ll have to extend their run to a record-equaling eight-straight wins to get it done but have all the firepower you could ask for.

ONES TO WATCH

Hobart Hurricanes: Mitchell Owen

Owen has been a revelation for the Hurricanes and will likely feature atop of the order in the Team of the Season. The towering opener has compiled 308 runs at a strike rate of 186.66 and can take the game away from the opposition early in the piece. His devastating, boundary-clearing hitting is difficult to replicate, though middle order rock Nikhil Chaudhary and finisher Tim David are just as integral.

Sydney Sixers: Ben Dwarshuis

Dwarshuis’ all-round impact has been felt throughout the tournament; as he has chimed in with pivotal hitting in the lower order to save games, while also fulfilling his duties as a seam bowler. The Australian international makes the Sixers squad seem all the more deep, boasting a strong amount of experience and plenty of teammates around him who can contribute in a similar game-winning vein.

Sydney Thunder: David Warner

Warner has carried the Thunder into this year’s finals having returned in a full-time capacity to the side which finished bottom last time around. The crafty left-hander is unmatched when it comes to game awareness and smarts in the T20 format, which counts for plenty in knockout bouts. That’s not to mention his runs – the 38-year-old is averaging nearly 60 with three 50s and as many unbeaten knocks.

Melbourne Stars: Mark Steketee

While the leadership of Stoinis and x-factor of Maxwell have been major contributors behind the Stars’ revival, perhaps an underrated figure has been Steketee. Finally earning his plaudits, the quick has collected 15 wickets in five appearances – which have all been wins. That figure includes the competition’s only five-wicket haul, making for a remarkable average of 8.60 this season.

PREDICTIONS

There’s a good chance history will be made during the finals – well, about 50 per cent. Both the Hurricanes and Stars are after their first title, while the Sixers could rack up a fourth to close the gap on Perth’s unprecedented five trophies.

It may take feats we’ve never seen before, it is difficult to look past the Stars as the team to beat. Beau Webster is a big loss, but it just feels right that with genuine guns like Maxwell and Stoinis firing, Tom Curran returning, and the bowling unit gelling beautifully, they can finally break through.

The Sixers would be the safe bet, given they have been there and done that, and the Hurricanes’ home-and-away campaign cannot be discounted. Lest we forget Hobart only recently had its seven-game winning streak broken by the Stars.

Then there’s the Thunder, perhaps the biggest underdog heading into the finals but one which cannot be dismissed. Perhaps they won’t have the firepower to match the other three sides, but with a competitor like Warner leading the charge, anything is possible.