The second match of BBL 2025-26 takes place in Geelong. Melbourne Renegades, led by Will Sutherland, finished mid-table last season after inconsistent results and missed the playoffs again, with only one playoff appearance in six seasons. They will be keen to start this campaign strongly.
Josh Brown opens with new partner Caleb Jewell, and Mohammad Rizwan bats at three, followed by Jake Fraser-McGurk and Tim Seifert, who was the team’s leading run-scorer last season. Sutherland and Harry Dixon provide power lower down. Thomas Rogers and Fergus O’Neill share the new ball, with Adam Zampa and Sutherland controlling the middle overs and Callum Stow in a supporting role.
Brisbane Heat, captained by Jimmy Peirson in Usman Khawaja’s absence, are a former champion who won just three games last season, and their recent record against the Renegades has not been encouraging. Tom Alsop and Nathan McSweeney are expected to open, Colin Munro, Matt Renshaw and Max Bryant follow, and Jack Wildermuth and Michael Neser provide hitting. Xavier Bartlett and Neser must bowl well early, with Shaheen Afridi, Spencer Johnson and Matthew Kuhnemann in support. Our preview leans narrowly towards the Renegades.