Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder Prediction & Match Preview – BBL 29th Match
Match summary
Brisbane Heat, boosted by Khawaja and Labuschagne, face bottom-placed Sydney Thunder at the Gabba on 10 January 2026. Our BBL preview and XIs.
Match details
| Match | Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder, 29th Match |
|---|---|
| Series | Big Bash League 2025-26 |
| Date | 10 Jan 2026 |
| Venue | The Gabba, Brisbane |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | Brisbane Heat |
| Toss pick | Sydney Thunder |
Matches in this series
Match preview
Brisbane Heat have had a mixed season, with three wins and four defeats leaving them around sixth. Three league games remain and the standings are tight, so two wins could be enough to stay in the race. They get a timely lift as Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja return to the squad, with Khawaja replacing Nathan McSweeney as captain.
Matt Renshaw has carried much of the batting, scoring 245 runs in seven matches at an average of 35 and a strike rate of 157. Max Bryant has added 182 at 154, Jack Wildermuth 176 and Hugh Weibgen 131. Wildermuth also leads the wicket tally with nine, albeit at an economy of 10.04, and Xavier Bartlett and Matthew Kuhnemann have shared 16 wickets. Pakistan quick Zaman Khan has come in as cover for the injured Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Sydney Thunder have won only one of seven and sit at the bottom with a net run rate of -1.255, so they must win all three remaining games to stay alive. Matthew Gilkes has scored 208 at a strike rate of 166.40, Sam Billings and Sam Konstas have both passed 120, and David Warner’s late surge makes him a danger. Daniel Sams has taken 11 wickets, though expensively at 10.14 an over, and Wes Agar has stepped in after Shadab Khan became unavailable.
The Gabba is known for a fast, bouncy surface that helps pace bowlers early. The new ball often brings seam movement and bounce, so the powerplay is key for both teams. As the game goes on the pitch flattens and batters can play more freely, though timing stays important because of the consistent pace. Spinners can contribute but are generally secondary to the quicks. T20 totals of around 170–190 are typical, and the true surface suits teams batting first, while chasers can benefit from even bounce under lights.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 170–185 | – |
| Second innings | 155–175 | – |
Brisbane Heat
Heat are still in the finals race and get Khawaja and Labuschagne back, while Thunder have one win from seven and sit bottom.
Toss pick: Sydney Thunder
FAQ
Who is expected to win Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder?
Our preview picks Brisbane Heat, who are around sixth with three wins and four defeats and still in the finals hunt.
What has changed for Brisbane Heat?
Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja have returned, with Khawaja taking over the captaincy from Nathan McSweeney.
Is David Warner in form?
Yes. After a quiet start he has made 130 not out off 65 balls and an unbeaten 67 off 51 in his last two innings.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Brisbane Heat
- Jack Wildermuth
- Usman Khawajac
- Nathan McSweeney
- Matt Renshaw
- Max Bryant
- Marnus Labuschagne / Hugh Weibgen
- Jimmy Peirsonwk
- Xavier Bartlett
- Matthew Kuhnemann
- Zaman Khan / Thomas Balkin
- Ollie Patterson
Sydney Thunder
- Matthew Gilkes
- David Warnerc
- Sam Konstas
- Sam Billingswk
- Daniel Sams
- Chris Green
- Nathan McAndrew
- Tom Andrews
- Wes Agar
- Cameron Bancroft
- Ryan Hadley
- Tanveer Sangha
- David Willey
Head-to-head
Earlier meetings of Brisbane Heat and Sydney Thunder that we covered.