BBL 2025/26 | Match 24: Sydney Sixers vs Brisbane Heat | Preview and Predictions

The Sydney Sixers will take on the Brisbane Heat in Match 24 of the 2025/26 KFC Big Bash League season at C.ex Coffs International Stadium on January 5, 2026. 

The Sixers have struggled to find any rhythm this season and sit in sixth position with only four points from five matches. The Heat, however, have fared somewhat better and find themselves sitting in fourth place with six points from six outings. 

Here, we present our preview and predictions for Match 24 of BBL|15. 

BBL|15 Match 24: Sixers vs Heat | 13:45 IST, January 5, 2026

The Sydney Sixers have found it hard to find momentum in this campaign, having managed only two wins while suffering three losses along the way. With the tournament already in its second leg, the Sixers need wins to bring themselves back into the play-off conversation.

Their batting has been erratic at times. Josh Philippe has been carrying much of the run-scoring burden, having registered 196 runs from five outings at an average of 40 and a strike rate of 154. He has been the standout batter in an otherwise inconsistent line-up. Both Daniel Hughes and Babar Azam have started to provide some solidity up top, but the middle order — especially the likes of Moises Henriques and Jordan Silk — need to start contributing more if the team are to clinch a play-off spot.

Just like their batting line-up, the Sixers’ bowling attack has been heavily relying on a handful of individuals for breakthroughs, with the rest of the unit failing to attack the opposition. Jack Edwards is leading the Sixers’ wicket-taking column with ten scalps. Joel Davis and Ben Dwarshuis have combined for 11 dismissals, but contributions beyond them have been inconsistent. The addition of Sean Abbott has been crucial, however, and will give the Sixers belief that they can still turn things around in the second half of the season.

The Brisbane Heat, on the other hand, have experienced an up-and-down journey so far with three wins and three defeats from their six games, which places them in fourth place, just behind the Perth Scorchers on net run rate. Moreover, the fact that they’ve managed to overcome their heavy defeat against the Adelaide Strikers with a confidence-boosting victory over the Melbourne Stars, which in turn ended their unbeaten run, says a lot about the mentality and belief in this group. 

In the run-scoring department, Matt Renshaw has been the standout batter with 243 runs in six outings while striking at 163. Max Bryant has been an able deputy; his impact stood out against the Stars, where he anchored the chase with an unbeaten 48 off 26 to carry the Heat home while chasing 196. There have also been crucial contributions from Hugh Weibgen and Jimmy Peirson lower down the order, although Jack Wildermuth, apart from his one century against the Scorchers, has been quiet with the bat. 

In the bowling department, Xavier Bartlett and Wildermuth lead the attack with eight wickets apiece. Tom Balkin, despite only playing half the games, has five wickets, while Matthew Kuhnemann has been accurate with his line and length during the middle overs. That said, the lack of a genuine fifth bowler has hurt the Heat at times and is something to keep an eye out for. 

In terms of weather forecast and pitch report, conditions in Coffs Harbour can be expected to be humid and breezy, with chances of a thunderstorm later in the day. Historically, the strip here has shown signs of slowing as the game unfolds, and slow bowlers have been equally effective alongside pacers, so adaptable batting plans tend to pay off. In BBL games here, totals have ranged around 150 to 200, with chasing sides winning more often. 

Looking ahead to this fixture, both the Sydney Sixers and the Brisbane Heat have had patchy campaigns so far and need to string some wins together as the second half of the competition gets underway. There isn’t a huge gap between these two on current form, but that recent victory against the Melbourne Stars should have lifted the Heat’s belief considerably, and we think they’ll take that momentum into this match, which makes them our marginal favourites to win this one.

Fantasy XI: Daniel Hughes, Jack Wildermuth (vc), Babar Azam, Josh Philippe, Nathan McSweeney, Matt Renshaw (c), Max Bryant, Jack Edwards, Xavier Bartlett, Sean Abbott, Thomas Balkin 

Venue: C.ex Coffs International Stadium, Coffs Harbour 
Winners Prediction: Brisbane Heat