Brisbane Heat and Sydney Sixers have secured the opening picks in the upcoming Big Bash League drafts, setting the stage for a busy recruitment period ahead of the 2024–25 summer season.
Brisbane will select first in the KFC BBL|15 Draft, while the Sixers have won the corresponding top spot in the Weber WBBL|11 Draft. The announcement follows a lottery process that determines the order in which teams can select international players.
Both drafts are scheduled for Thursday, 19 June, with Cricket Australia moving the date forward this year to give teams more time to plan their squads. The portal for overseas player nominations will open on 28 April, with the draft to be televised on Seven, 7plus, Foxtel and Kayo Sports.
Each club can select up to four overseas players, including those signed to multi-year deals. Those players must still be assigned a pick during the draft, according to their salary band. The fourth player chosen by each team will serve as the first replacement player in case of unavailability or withdrawal.
The draft lottery was carried out by TPAL Australia in front of club general managers and league officials. The first four selections in each draw were contested among teams that missed the finals last season, with finalists allocated the remaining positions.
For the BBL|15, the selection order is: Brisbane Heat, Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Renegades, Perth Scorchers, Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Sixers, Melbourne Stars, and Sydney Thunder.
In the WBBL|11, the order is: Sydney Sixers, Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Stars, Perth Scorchers, Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Thunder, Melbourne Renegades, and Brisbane Heat.
Alistair Dobson, General Manager of Big Bash Leagues at Cricket Australia, said the release of the draft order would sharpen club strategies.
“The intrigue surrounding recruitment of international stars for the BBL|15 and WBBL|11 will intensify after the announcement of the lottery draft orders for the forthcoming season,” he said.
“We’re confident the draft will again deliver fantastic international talent to both leagues, with the Brisbane Heat and Sydney Sixers getting the first chance to land the best possible overseas signing.
“We’re confident bringing the draft date forward will ensure greater certainty for clubs as they build their squads in the lead-up to another highly competitive season.”
The earlier date could prove useful for teams juggling domestic schedules and international commitments, as global cricket calendars grow more crowded.
The Big Bash League has leaned heavily into the draft format in recent years, hoping to bring structure and transparency to the signing of overseas talent. While the system has its critics—especially from fans who miss the long-term association of players with clubs—it has succeeded in bringing in some of the game’s biggest international names.
Whether the first picks lead to a title remains to be seen. Brisbane will be hoping to capitalise on its draft advantage after falling short in recent seasons. For the Sixers, the opportunity to add fresh international firepower will be welcome after a campaign that exposed gaps in depth.
As always, draft night carries its own drama, with surprises and late calls likely to dominate headlines. Clubs will be weighing performance, availability and price, and some high-profile names could still be passed over depending on how those factors align.
Fans can follow the announcements and picks live via the Big Bash app and official broadcast channels. With just over two months to go until the draft, the chess game of recruitment has officially begun.
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🔥 Brisbane Heat & Sydney Sixers secure top picks in BBL|15 & WBBL|11 drafts. 🏏 Drafts moved to 19 June for better squad planning. 🌟 Teams can pick 4 overseas stars. #TheIndianSun @HeatBBL @SixersBBL @BBL @WBBLhttps://t.co/iuvUpdxabk
— The Indian Sun (@The_Indian_Sun) April 10, 2025
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