The 12th edition of the Big Bash League gets underway on Wednesday, December 13, with two months of cricket once again ahead of eight clubs to fight it out for one of the world's biggest T20 domestic competitions.
The Perth Scorchers come in as the defending champions, but not the favourites after a tumultuous pre-season which has seen Laurie Evans, Mitch Marsh and Phil Salt all ruled out for the season.
It has left the club sliding down the favouritism ranks, although the success of the Scorchers will likely still see them there and about come finals time.
The Sydney Sixers, who they beat in last year's grand final, are one of the clubs to watch, as are the fast-improving Hobart Hurricanes under the watchful eye of Ricky Ponting, who has taken over as head of strategy and is well-regarded as one of the smartest minds in the sport.
The Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars, Sydney Thunder, Brisbane Heat and Adelaide Strikers have also all prepared solidly for the new campaign and it could be one of the most competitive BBL campaigns in recent years.
So, with that in mind, we asked our team to tip the winners, losers and top players for the season ahead.
Here are their predictions.
Jake Benoiton
Champion: Hobart Hurricanes
Runner-up: Sydney Sixers
Wooden spoon: Brisbane Heat
Player of the tournament: Ben McDermott
Most runs: Ben McDermott
Most wickets: Adam Zampa
Ed Carmine
Champion: Hobart Hurricanes
Runner-up: Sydney Sixers
Wooden spoon: Brisbane Heat
Player of the tournament: Josh Philippe
Most runs: Josh Philippe
Most wickets: Sean Abbott
Mark Goodyear
Champion: Sydney Sixers
Runner-up: Hobart Hurricanes
Wooden spoon: Melbourne Renegades
Player of the tournament: Josh Philippe
Most runs: Josh Philippe
Most wickets: Adam Zampa
Cameron Grimes
Champion: Hobart Hurricanes
Runner-up: Sydney Sixers
Wooden spoon: Melbourne Renegades
Player of the tournament: Ben McDermott
Most runs: Ben McDermott
Most wickets: Sean Abbott
Mitch Keating
Champion: Perth Scorchers
Runner-up: Hobart Hurricanes
Wooden spoon: Melbourne Stars
Player of the tournament: Jason Sangha
Most runs: Shaun Marsh
Most wickets: Nathan Ellis
Ethan Lee Chalk
Champion: Sydney Thunder
Runner-up: Melbourne Renegades
Wooden spoon: Melbourne Stars
Player of the tournament: Rashid Khan
Most runs: Shaun Marsh
Most wickets: Rashid Khan
Scott Pryde
Champion: Sydney Sixers
Runner-up: Hobart Hurricanes
Wooden spoon: Brisbane Heat
Player of the tournament: Marcus Stoinis
Most runs: Matthew Wade
Most wickets: Riley Meredith
Anthony Talliopoulos
Champion: Hobart Hurricanes
Runner-up: Perth Scorchers
Wooden spoon: Brisbane Heat
Player of the tournament: Ben McDermott
Most runs: Ben McDermott
Most wickets: Adam Zampa
