Sydney Sixers will take on Brisbane Heat in Match 24 of the ongoing 2025/26 Big Bash League at C.ex Coffs International Stadium on 5th January 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 between the Sixers and the Heat. 

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

Sydney Sixers have found it hard to find momentum in this BBL campaign, managing 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 playoff conversation.

Their batting has been erratic at times, however, Josh Philippe has been carrying much of the runscoring burden with 196 runs from five outings while holding an average of 40 and a strike rate of 154. He has been the standout batter in an otherwise inconsistent season. 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 they want to challenge for a playoff spot. 

Just like their batting lineup, the bowling attack has been heavily relying on two-three individuals for breakthroughs with the unit failing to attack the opposition on all fronts. Jack Edwards leads the wicket-takers 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 and will give the Sixers belief that they can still turn things around in the second half of the season. 

Brisbane Heat have experienced an up-and-down journey so far, with three wins and three defeats from their six games, placing them in fourth 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 – also ending their unbeaten run – says a lot about the mentality and belief in this group. 

In the runscoring 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 balls to carry the Brisbane Heat home while chasing 196 against the Stars. There have been crucial contributions from Hugh Wiegben and Jimmy Peirson lower down the order, although Jack Wildermuth, apart from his one century against the Scorchers, has been quiet with the bat so far this season. 

In the bowling department, Xavier Bartlett and Jack Wildermuth lead the attack with eight wickets apiece. Tom Balkin – despite only playing half the games – has five while Matthew Kuhnemann has been accurate both with his line and length during the middle overs. That said, the lack of a genuine fifth bowler has hurt them 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 the high-150s to 200+, with chasing sides winning more often. 

Looking ahead to this fixture, both Sydney Sixers and 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 teams 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 marginal favorites.

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