Melbourne Renegades face Brisbane Heat in the second match of Big Bash League 2025-26 at Simonds Stadium, Geelong, on December 15. Both teams enter with strong squads blending international stars and domestic talent, setting up a competitive opener. Expect a tactical battle on a venue favouring pace bowling and moderate scores.
Will Sutherland leads a balanced Renegades side with Mohammad Rizwan anchoring at 134.69 strike rate this year and Tim Seifert adding firepower. Spin duo Nathan Lyon and Adam Zampa, plus Jason Behrendorff‘s pace, bolster the attack, while Jake Fraser-McGurk promises explosive starts. They hold a 3-2 edge in the last five head-to-heads against Heat.
Usman Khawaja captains a Heat lineup reloaded after last season’s seventh-place finish, featuring Colin Munro‘s aggression and Shaheen Shah Afridi’s new-ball threat. Matt Renshaw (280 runs at 169.69 strike rate last BBL) and pace trio Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson, plus spinner Matt Kuhnemann, provide depth. Renshaw and Munro target high-impact overs.
MR vs BH, BBL|15: Match details
- Date and Time: December 15 (Monday); 1:45 pm IST / 8:15 am GMT / 4:15 pm Local
- Venue: Simonds Stadium, Geelong
- Head-to-Head Record in BBL: Matches played: 22 | Melbourne Renegades won: 14 | Brisbane Heat won: 08 | No result/Tied: 0
Simonds Stadium Pitch Report
Simonds Stadium in Geelong presents a pace-friendly surface for the Big Bash League 2025-26 opener between Melbourne Renegades and Brisbane Heat. Historically hosting 13 BBL games, it favors chasing sides with 8 wins out of 12 completed matches, boasting an average first-innings score of around 130-150 under lights. The pitch offers true bounce early, assisting seamers who can exploit swing in evening conditions around 22-24°C with partial clouds. Spinners gain grip later, while boundaries flow at a 118.4 strike rate, enabling totals up to 170-180 if batters settle. Expect a tactical duel where death overs decide the chase.
Squads:
Melbourne Renegades: Will Sutherland (c), Tim Seifert, Adam Zampa, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Caleb Jewell, Jason Behrendorff, Josh Brown, Harry Dixon, Brendan Doggett, Nathan Lyon, Hassan Khan, Ollie Peake, Mohammad Rizwan, Tom Rogers
Brisbane Heat: Usman Khawaja (c), Colin Munro, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Tom Alsop, Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Lachlan Hearne, Matt Kuhnemann, Nathan McSweeney, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matt Renshaw, Callum Vidler, Hugh Weibgen, Jack Wildermuth, Spencer Johnson
MR vs BH, BBL|15: Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- Brisbane Heat wins the toss and bowls first
- Melbourne Renegades’ powerplay score: 45-55 (6 overs)
- Melbourne Renegades’ total score: 170-180
Case 2:
- Melbourne Renegades wins the toss and bowls first
- Brisbane Heat’s powerplay score: 55-65 (6 overs)
- Brisbane Heat’s total score: 180-190
Match result: Team bowling first to win the contest
