BBL 2025/26 | Match 17: Adelaide Strikers vs Brisbane Heat | Preview and Predictions

The Adelaide Strikers will take on the Brisbane Heat in Match 17 of the 2025/26 KFC Big Bash League season at the Adelaide Oval on December 31, 2025. 

Consistency has eluded both teams through the opening phase of the tournament, and each side will be itching to get on a run of victories as the tournament enters its busy period.

The Heat hold the upper hand coming into this match-up, owing to their strong performances against the Strikers over the years as well as having beaten them earlier in this campaign.

Here, we present our preview and predictions for Match 17 of BBL|15.

BBL|15 Match 17: Strikers vs Heat | 13:45 IST, December 31, 2025

The Strikers find themselves sixth in the league table after winning just one of their three games. Thus, a few positive results in the next round of fixtures, starting with this one, would go a long way towards lifting both their morale and position in the league table. 

Matthew Short, leading from the front as captain, has been the backbone of the Strikers’ batting. He has scored 134 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 134, while also chipping in with crucial overs with the ball and picking up three wickets.  

Liam Scott and all-rounder Jamie Overton have been the other key contributors with the bat, as the rest of the order has failed to deliver thus far, including big names like Chris Lynn and Jason Sangha. 

In the bowling department, English left-arm seamer Luke Wood has been the most productive one with five wickets from two outings. There’s able support from fellow Englishman Overton, Hasan Ali, and Lloyd Pope, with the leg-spinner in particular impressing with both his tight control and wicket-taking threat. 

The Heat, on the other hand, find themselves in a somewhat better shape thanks to their victory against the Strikers in Match 13. With two wins and two losses from their first four fixtures, they’re third in the table. However, with Shaheen Shah Afridi now joining skipper Nathan McSweeney on the injury list, at least one change is expected in their bowling line-up.

In the batting department, it’s all roses for the Heat. Apart from the Melbourne Stars, they are the only side whose batting order is firing on all cylinders. Matt Renshaw tops the run-scorers’ chart for the Heat with 196 runs from four games at an average of 49 and a strike rate of 175. Max Bryant and Jack Wildermuth have also crossed the 100-run mark and scored at a steady rate, while both Colin Munro at the top and Hugh Weibgen lower down the order have scored at an express rate.

On the bowling front, Wildermuth has been the Heat’s most successful operator, picking up eight wickets from four outings at an economy rate of 10.31. Stand-in skipper Xavier Bartlett and left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann have been the other key contributors, sharing 11 wickets between them, though the rest of the attack has struggled for rhythm and consistency, resulting in sub-par showings.

In terms of weather forecast and pitch report, conditions are expected to be clear and pleasant for the entire match. The pitch tends to play true throughout, meaning there could be runs on offer. That said, with larger squares and shorter straight boundaries, it’ll be a constant battle of cat-and-mouse between batters and bowlers. Moreover, in recent matches, teams winning the toss have opted to field first; expect the trend to continue.

Looking ahead to this fixture, despite the gulf in their league positions, one victory for the Adelaide Strikers would level the playing field. Right now, there isn’t a huge gap between these two sides, although the Brisbane Heat appear better equipped on paper and should gain belief from their win over the Strikers in last week’s meeting. While playing at home certainly gives the Strikers an edge, we believe the Heat are in better form and hold the advantage in this contest.

Fantasy XI: Matthew Short, Colin Munro, Liam Scott, Jack Wildermuth (c), Matt Renshaw, Max Bryant, Jamie Overton (vc), Xavier Bartlett, Hasan Ali, Lloyd Pope, Matthew Kuhnemann 

Venue: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Winners Prediction: Brisbane Heat