The Brisbane Heat are one of Australia’s leading professional Twenty20 cricket teams, representing Queensland in both the men’s Big Bash League (BBL) and the women’s Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL). Established in 2011, the club has won two men’s BBL championships and two women’s WBBL titles. In 2026, the men’s side enters BBL|16 under returning head coach James Hopes, while the women’s team prepares for WBBL|12.
What is Brisbane Heat?
Brisbane Heat is a professional cricket club based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It competes in Australia’s premier domestic T20 competitions: the men’s BBL and the women’s WBBL.
The club was established in 2011 for the launch of the Big Bash League. Its identity quickly became associated with aggressive batting, entertaining T20 cricket and a strong Queensland connection. The Heat’s stated purpose is to bring families together through sport and create memorable match-day experiences.
For international cricket fans, the Heat is also a useful pathway into Queensland’s wider cricket system. Players connected with the club have included Australian internationals, emerging Queensland players and overseas T20 specialists.
Brisbane Heat men’s team
The men’s Brisbane Heat compete in the KFC Big Bash League, Australia’s premier domestic men’s T20 competition.
The team won its first BBL championship in BBL|02, defeating the Perth Scorchers in Perth. More than a decade later, Brisbane claimed its second men’s championship in BBL|13 by defeating the Sydney Sixers by 54 runs.
The Heat have therefore won two men’s BBL titles:
| Season | Competition | Result |
| BBL | 02 | Men’s BBL |
| BBL | 13 | Men’s BBL |
| BBL | 12 | Men’s BBL |
| BBL | 15 | Men’s BBL |
The 2025-26 BBL|15 campaign ended with Brisbane fifth on the ladder after five wins and five losses. Matthew Renshaw led the team for runs with 324, while Xavier Bartlett was the leading wicket-taker with 15.
Brisbane Heat women’s team
The Brisbane Heat women compete in the WBBL.
The women’s side has also enjoyed championship success, winning WBBL|04 and WBBL|05. That gives the wider Brisbane Heat organisation four Big Bash championships across its men’s and women’s teams.
The WBBL side experienced a difficult WBBL|11 campaign, finishing eighth with no wins and one no-result. The club is aiming for a major response in WBBL|12, which begins in October 2026.
Jess Jonassen stepped down as WBBL captain in March 2026 after leading the Heat for six seasons. The club said it would move forward with other experienced leaders, including Georgia Redmayne.
Brisbane Heat coach in 2026
James Hopes is the new Brisbane Heat men’s head coach for the 2026-27 season.
Hopes is a particularly significant appointment because he is a former Heat captain and a long-standing figure in Queensland cricket. He has also coached the Hobart Hurricanes, Tasmanian Tigers and worked in the Indian Premier League. He agreed to a three-year coaching appointment with Queensland and Brisbane Heat.
Hopes replaces Johan Botha, who resigned from the Heat and Queensland Bulls coaching roles in June 2026 after two seasons. Under Botha, Brisbane missed the BBL finals in both seasons.
The women’s Brisbane Heat are coached by Mark Sorell. He remains in charge heading into WBBL|12.
Brisbane Heat BBL|16 squad
The contracted BBL|16 list has a strong Queensland and Australian core, although several experienced players remain uncontracted following the initial player-contract process.
The players contracted for BBL|16 include:
| Player | Primary role |
| Xavier Bartlett | Bowler |
| Max Bryant | Batter |
| Lachlan Hearne | Batter |
| Spencer Johnson | Bowler |
| Matt Kuhnemann | Bowler |
| Nathan McSweeney | All-rounder |
| Matthew Renshaw | Batter |
| Callum Vidler | Fast bowler |
| Hugh Weibgen | All-rounder |
| Jack Wildermuth | All-rounder |
Several familiar Heat names, including Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Colin Munro and Shaheen Shah Afridi, were listed as uncontracted in Cricket Australia’s July 2026 BBL|16 squad update. Player availability can therefore change before the season begins.
The Heat’s official player page currently lists a broader squad and identifies Usman Khawaja as captain, so the club’s published squad page and the BBL|16 contracted-player list should be treated separately when assessing the final 2026-27 playing group.
Key Brisbane Heat players to watch
Matthew Renshaw
Renshaw was Brisbane’s leading run-scorer in BBL|15 with 324 runs at a strike rate of 153.55. He also produced a landmark performance against the Perth Scorchers, scoring a century during Brisbane’s record BBL run chase.
Xavier Bartlett
Bartlett led the Heat’s bowling attack in BBL|15 with 15 wickets. His combination of pace and wicket-taking ability makes him an important part of Brisbane’s bowling plans.
Max Bryant
Bryant provides explosive middle-order batting and has been part of Brisbane’s long-term BBL plans. He is contracted through BBL|18.
Spencer Johnson
Johnson is one of the Heat’s most valuable pace-bowling assets. He remains contracted beyond BBL|16 and offers left-arm pace and a different angle to the attack.
Matt Kuhnemann
Kuhnemann gives Brisbane a specialist left-arm spin option. His long-term relationship with the Heat has also coincided with his rise to Australian international cricket.
The Brisbane Heat home ground
The Gabba in Brisbane is the men’s team’s most recognisable home venue.
The Heat have developed a particularly strong connection with the stadium. During BBL|15, more than 150,000 fans attended Heat matches at the Gabba, while the club recorded an average attendance of 30,028.
The stadium has also hosted some of the Heat’s most memorable matches, including the dramatic 2024 championship campaign and the record-breaking BBL|15 chase against Perth.
Allan Border Field
Allan Border Field is an important Brisbane venue for the women’s Heat.
The WBBL team is scheduled to play four home matches there during WBBL|12, including its opening match against the Sydney Sixers on October 30, 2026.
Brisbane Heat BBL|16 fixtures
The 2026-27 BBL season gives Brisbane five regular-season home matches at the Gabba.
| Date | Match | Venue |
| 15 Dec 2026 | Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixers | Gabba |
| 17 Dec 2026 | Hobart Hurricanes vs Brisbane Heat | Ninja Stadium |
| 21 Dec 2026 | Melbourne Stars vs Brisbane Heat | Junction Oval |
| 26 Dec 2026 | Sydney Sixers vs Brisbane Heat | SCG |
| 28 Dec 2026 | Brisbane Heat vs Adelaide Strikers | Gabba |
| 1 Jan 2027 | Brisbane Heat vs Hobart Hurricanes | Gabba |
| 4 Jan 2027 | Perth Scorchers vs Brisbane Heat | Optus Stadium |
| 8 Jan 2027 | Brisbane Heat vs Perth Scorchers | Gabba |
| 10 Jan 2027 | Melbourne Renegades vs Brisbane Heat | Junction Oval |
| 17 Jan 2027 | Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder | Gabba |
The Heat will open their BBL|16 home campaign against the Sydney Sixers on December 15, 2026. The club is also bringing back its New Year’s Bash on January 1 against the Hobart Hurricanes.
Brisbane Heat WBBL|12 fixtures
The women’s Heat begin their WBBL|12 home campaign against the Sydney Sixers at Allan Border Field on October 30, 2026.
Other scheduled fixtures include home games against the Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Thunder, plus a home fixture against Adelaide. The regular season runs through November, followed by the finals in early December.
Brisbane Heat history
The club was founded in 2011 alongside the creation of the Big Bash League.
Its first major breakthrough came in BBL|02, when the Heat won their first men’s championship. The club later reached another men’s final in BBL|12 before losing to the Perth Scorchers.
Brisbane’s second men’s title arrived in BBL|13. The Heat defeated the Sydney Sixers by 54 runs to become BBL champions again.
The women’s side has added two WBBL championships, giving the club four Big Bash titles overall.
Brisbane Heat championship record
| Team | Titles | Championship seasons |
| Brisbane Heat Men | 2 | BBL |
| Brisbane Heat Women | 2 | WBBL |
| Total | 4 | 4 championships |
This combined record is one reason Brisbane Heat has become an established Big Bash brand rather than simply a single men’s T20 franchise.
Brisbane Heat’s record BBL moments
One of the club’s most notable recent performances came in BBL|15, when Brisbane chased 259 against the Perth Scorchers at the Gabba.
The Heat finished on 2-258, their highest team total. Matthew Renshaw and Jack Wildermuth both scored centuries, producing the first instance of two century-makers in the same BBL innings and a record partnership for the competition.
The Heat’s BBL|13 championship was another defining moment. Their 54-run victory over Sydney Sixers delivered the club’s second men’s BBL trophy.
What makes Brisbane Heat important in Australian cricket?
Brisbane Heat sits within Queensland’s wider cricket pathway.
The club provides a high-profile T20 platform for Queensland players while also attracting established Australian and international cricketers. Its connection with the Queensland Bulls and Queensland Fire means players can move between formats and levels of domestic cricket.
The Heat has also built a strong match-day identity around entertainment and family events. In BBL|15, the club drew more than 150,000 spectators and recorded its highest average attendance since 2017-18.
Brisbane Heat: BBL vs WBBL
| Feature | Brisbane Heat Men | Brisbane Heat Women |
| Competition | Big Bash League | Women’s Big Bash League |
| Next season | BBL | 16 |
| Main home venue | The Gabba | Allan Border Field |
| Men’s/Women’s titles | 2 | 2 |
| Most recent title | BBL | 13 |
| 2026 coach | James Hopes | Mark Sorell |
| Recent season | Fifth in BBL | 15 |
| 2026-27 outlook | New coaching era | Rebuild after winless season |
The two teams share the Brisbane Heat identity but operate as separate playing groups with their own competitions, coaches and seasonal campaigns.
FAQs
Who are the Brisbane Heat?
Brisbane Heat are Brisbane’s professional Big Bash cricket teams, representing Queensland in the men’s BBL and women’s WBBL. The club was founded in 2011 and has won four Big Bash championships in total: two men’s titles and two women’s titles.
How many BBL titles have Brisbane Heat won?
The Brisbane Heat men’s team has won two BBL championships. Their titles came in BBL|02 and BBL|13. The second championship was secured with a 54-run victory over the Sydney Sixers in the 2023-24 BBL final.
Who is the Brisbane Heat coach?
James Hopes is the Brisbane Heat men’s head coach for the 2026-27 season. The former Heat captain returned to Brisbane after coaching roles with the Hobart Hurricanes, Tasmania and in the IPL. He agreed to a three-year appointment.
Where do Brisbane Heat play?
The men’s Brisbane Heat primarily play their home BBL matches at the Gabba in Brisbane. The women’s team uses Allan Border Field for several WBBL home matches. The venues provide the Heat with distinct home environments for the men’s and women’s competitions.
Who is the Brisbane Heat captain?
Leadership can vary between seasons and individual matches. The Heat’s current official men’s player page lists Usman Khawaja as captain, while Cricket Australia’s BBL|16 contract update lists him as uncontracted, so the final 2026-27 leadership group should be confirmed by the club before the season.
When does Brisbane Heat BBL|16 start?
Brisbane Heat’s BBL|16 campaign begins on December 15, 2026, when the Heat host the Sydney Sixers at the Gabba. The match is scheduled for 6:15pm Queensland time and is the club’s opening home fixture of the season.
When does Brisbane Heat WBBL|12 start?
The women’s Brisbane Heat begin their WBBL|12 campaign against the Sydney Sixers on October 30, 2026. The match is scheduled for Allan Border Field in Brisbane at 6:10pm Queensland time. It is the Heat’s opening home match of the WBBL|12 season.
Who is the Brisbane Heat women’s captain?
Jess Jonassen stepped down as Brisbane Heat women’s captain in March 2026 after leading the team for six seasons. The club has not presented a final replacement captain in the cited WBBL|12 announcement, although Georgia Redmayne is identified as an experienced leader within the Queensland group.
What was Brisbane Heat’s result in BBL|15?
Brisbane Heat finished fifth in BBL|15 with five wins and five losses. Matthew Renshaw was their leading run-scorer with 324 runs, while Xavier Bartlett led the bowling attack with 15 wickets. Brisbane narrowly remained in finals contention until the final regular-season match.
Who are the key Brisbane Heat players?
Important players connected with the current men’s squad include Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson, Matthew Renshaw, Max Bryant, Matt Kuhnemann, Nathan McSweeney and Jack Wildermuth. Several experienced players, including Usman Khawaja and Michael Neser, were listed as uncontracted in the initial BBL|16 player update, so the final squad may change.
Conclusion
Brisbane Heat have developed from one of the original Big Bash franchises into an established Queensland cricket brand with success in both men’s and women’s T20 cricket. The club has won two BBL championships and two WBBL titles, while building a strong home following at venues including the Gabba and Allan Border Field. The 2026-27 season brings a particularly interesting change for the men’s team, with former captain James Hopes returning as head coach after Johan Botha’s resignation. The Heat also enter BBL|16 after finishing fifth in BBL|15, a campaign highlighted by a record 258-run chase against Perth. The women’s team faces its own rebuilding challenge after a winless WBBL|11 and the departure of Jess Jonassen from the captaincy. With new leadership, established players and strong Queensland connections, the Brisbane Heat remain one of the most recognisable teams in Australian domestic cricket.
