The Perth Scorchers, representing the Western Australian city of Perth, are a powerhouse in the Big Bash League (BBL), Australia’s premier domestic Twenty20 cricket competition. With a rich history and a recent championship win, the Scorchers have solidified their status as one of the most successful teams in the BBL.
Recent Triumph: BBL 2022-23 Champions
The Perth Scorchers are the current BBL reigning champions, having clinched the title in a thrilling showdown against the Brisbane Heat in the 2022-23 season. This victory marked their fifth championship win, making them the most successful team in BBL history. The Scorchers’ journey to the top has been filled with memorable moments, and they are now chasing a hat-trick of season victories as they aim to conquer BBL 13.
A History of Success
The Scorchers’ journey to cricketing glory has been nothing short of remarkable. They first tasted success by clinching their maiden championship against the Hobart Hurricanes. What followed was even more impressive as they secured back-to-back titles by defeating the Sydney Sixers in a thrilling last-ball showdown at Canberra’s Manuka Oval. The Scorchers became the first team in BBL history to achieve this remarkable feat.
History
2011–2012: BBL01 Season
The Scorchers made their BBL debut with a squad largely composed of players from the Western Australia cricket team, bolstered by the inclusion of international stars Simon Katich, Herschelle Gibbs, and Paul Collingwood. Notably, Brad Hogg, despite a hiatus from state and international cricket, joined their ranks.
The inaugural season got off to a rocky start, with a 31-run loss to the Hobart Hurricanes. However, they quickly found their footing, winning five consecutive matches to finish at the top of the ladder. This secured a home final, and while they won the semi-final against the Melbourne Stars, they lost to the Sydney Sixers in the final.
2012 Champions League
Their strong BBL performance earned them a spot at the 2012 Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa. Unfortunately, the tournament was marred by a lackluster showing, with the Marsh brothers, Shaun and Mitchell, even facing disciplinary action for over-celebrating.
2012–2013: BBL02 Season
In the following season, the Scorchers underwent changes, with the departure of Collingwood and the arrival of Alfonso Thomas. The season had its share of setbacks, including a record low total of 69 runs against the Melbourne Stars. Yet, they bounced back and secured a home final against the Melbourne Stars, only to lose by 34 runs.
2013 Champions League
Their qualification for the 2013 Champions League Twenty20 was met with a challenging situation. Injuries and unavailability took a toll on their performance, resulting in three losses and a bottom finish in their group.
2013–2014: BBL03 Season
The Scorchers’ third BBL season saw the retention of key players and the inclusion of international stars Alfonso Thomas and Yasir Arafat. They finished third with five wins, won the semi-final against the Sydney Sixers, and hosted the final, where they clinched their first BBL title with a 39-run win over the Hobart Hurricanes.
2014–2015: BBL04 Season
In the fourth season, Adam Voges took the helm as captain after Simon Katich’s retirement. With international recruit Michael Carberry and Yasir Arafat returning, the Scorchers reached their fourth consecutive final. The match was a nail-biter, coming down to the last ball. Thanks to a fumbled run-out, the Scorchers secured their second BBL title, marking a thrilling victory.
2015–2016: BBL05 Season
Under the leadership of Adam Voges, the Scorchers aimed for continued success. Michael Carberry and David Willey joined as the international players. The season witnessed a historic moment when, on 30 December 2015, the Scorchers secured the first-ever 10-wicket win in BBL history against the Melbourne Renegades.
Despite maintaining their record of qualifying for every Big Bash finals series, they faced a setback by losing to the Melbourne Stars in the semi-final. This season marked the only instance where the Scorchers failed to reach the final, ending their hopes of securing a third successive trophy.
2016–2017: BBL06 Season
The Scorchers faced changes and challenges during the 2016–17 season. Former international cricketer Mitchell Johnson, fresh from retirement, joined the Scorchers, adding to their bowling prowess. However, fan favorite Brad Hogg moved on to the Melbourne Renegades.
The Scorchers demonstrated their mettle in the semi-final, with Johnson creating history by conceding only three runs in four overs, a BBL record. In the final, they faced the Sydney Sixers and clinched their third BBL trophy with a remarkable nine-wicket victory.
2017–2018: BBL07 Season
As the seventh season dawned, the Scorchers unveiled an updated logo and decided to recruit a single overseas player, David Willey, for the third consecutive season. Mitchell Marsh took over the captaincy from Michael Klinger.
The team finished atop the table with eight wins out of ten matches. However, their journey came to an abrupt end in the semifinals against the Hobart Hurricanes. The Scorchers struggled to contain the Hurricanes’ batting might and fell short in their chase.
2018–2019: BBL08 Season
The 2018–19 season saw a familiar roster, with Adam Voges transitioning from a player to a coach. Despite retaining key players, including the addition of Pakistani bowler Usman Qadir, the Scorchers faced a series of misfortunes.
Struggles from core players, coupled with absences of key figures, contributed to a disappointing season. With only four wins in 14 matches, they found themselves at the bottom of the table, missing out on the finals for the first time in BBL history.
2019–2020: BBL09 Season
The Scorchers underwent significant changes ahead of the BBL09 season. Notable departures included the retirement of Klinger and the exits of several key players. New additions brought fresh talent, but the season had its challenges.
Bowlers Fawad Ahmed and Chris Jordan proved to be effective, and Liam Livingstone’s dynamic opening partnership added excitement. However, a lack of depth was evident, and the team finished with six wins in 14 matches, narrowly missing out on a playoff spot.
2020–2021: BBL10 Season
Under the leadership of Ashton Turner, the Scorchers loaded up on import batting talent, bringing back Liam Livingstone, along with new additions Joe Clarke, Colin Munro, and Jason Roy. The season had a rocky start, with three defeats and a no-result in their first four matches. However, they turned the tide with a New Year’s Eve victory over the Adelaide Strikers and won eight of their last ten matches.
Finishing second on the table, Colin Munro’s standout performances earned him a place on the ESPNcricinfo BBL team of the season. Jhye Richardson also left a lasting mark, leading the tournament with 29 wickets.
The Scorchers faced the Sydney Sixers in the Qualifier but came up short, setting up a rematch against the Brisbane Heat in the Challenger. With a convincing 49-run victory, they earned their place in the Final. Although their bowlers struggled in the Final, they fell short by 27 runs against the Sixers, who claimed consecutive BBL titles.
2021–2022: BBL11 Season
In BBL11, the Scorchers retained most of their key players but faced a unique challenge. After an opening victory over the Brisbane Heat in Perth, they were forced to play all their remaining games on the road due to Western Australia’s travel restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Undaunted, they began the tournament with six consecutive victories, finishing atop the table with 11 wins in 14 matches. Stellar performances by Shaun Marsh, Ashton Agar, and Andrew Tye earned them spots on the ESPNcricinfo BBL team of the season. In the Qualifier, the Scorchers secured a convincing 48-run victory over the Sixers.
Six days later, they faced the Sixers once again in the Final, where they outperformed their opponents, depleted by injuries and COVID-19 restrictions. The Scorchers clinched their record fourth BBL title with a commanding 79-run victory.
2022–2023: BBL12 Season
The Scorchers faced considerable challenges ahead of the BBL12 season, losing key players from their championship-winning squad. Despite these setbacks, they kicked off the tournament with strength, finishing at the top of the season ladder. In the Qualifier, they faced the Sydney Sixers and triumphed in Perth, reaching the BBL Final for the eighth time.
The Final saw them take on the Brisbane Heat, played on a scorching day at Perth Stadium in front of a record crowd. The Heat set a competitive target of 175, and the Scorchers, led by Ashton Turner and an audacious partnership between Laurie Evans and Ashton Turner, secured their fifth Big Bash title with a remarkable five-wicket victory.
By Opposition
| Opposition | Pld | W | L | T | T+W | T+L | NR | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide Strikers | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54.54 |
| Brisbane Heat | 21 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 66.66 |
| Hobart Hurricanes | 19 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 63.15 |
| Melbourne Renegades | 18 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 83.33 |
| Melbourne Stars | 22 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 59.09 |
| Sydney Sixers | 27 | 16 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 59.25 |
| Sydney Thunder | 17 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47.05 |
Steadfast Leadership
The Scorchers’ path to greatness has been guided by some astute leaders. Mickey Arthur was the original head coach, but his appointment as the coach of the Australian national team led to his departure before the 2011-12 season.
Lachlan Stevens took over, and later, Justin Langer assumed the coaching role in November 2012. After Langer’s appointment as the Australian head coach, Adam Voges took the reins, ensuring that the Scorchers continued their winning ways.
Champion Players
The Scorchers have been home to some of the most exceptional cricketers in BBL history. Players like Shaun Marsh, Michael Klinger, Cameron Bancroft, Mitch Marsh, and the legendary Mitchell Johnson have donned the Scorchers’ orange cap with distinction.
Additionally, the presence of international stars like Yasir Arafat, Usman Qadir, Laurie Evans, and David Willey has added depth to their squad. The Scorchers’ roster boasts not only world-class batsmen but also formidable bowlers such as Brad Hogg, Jason Behrendorff, Jhye Richardson, and AJ Tye.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Scorchers extend their influence beyond the men’s league. They have a strong presence in the Women’s Big Bash League, emphasizing their commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity in the world of cricket. The Scorchers Women’s team has also been a formidable force in the WBBL.
As the Perth Scorchers continue to dominate the BBL, their legacy of success only grows. With an illustrious history and a promising future, they remain a force to be reckoned with in Australian T20 cricket. Their passionate fan base eagerly awaits the next season to see if they can secure a remarkable third consecutive championship win.
Highest Totals
| SCORE | OPPONENT | GROUND |
| 229/7 | MELBOURNE STARS | MELBOURNE |
| 213/3 | BRISBANE HEAT | PERTH |
| 212/5 | MELBOURNE RENEGADES | PERTH |
| 206/5 | MELBOURNE RENEGADES | DOCKLAND |
Lowest Totals
| SCORE | OPPONENT | GROUND |
| 69 | MELBOURNE STARS | PERTH |
| 79 | MELBOURNE RENEGADES | PERTH |
| 86 | MELBOURNE STARS | PERTH |
| 94 | MELBOURNE STARS | PERTH |
Most Runs
| PLAYER | MATCH | RUNS |
| ASHTON TURNER | 116 | 2018 |
| MITCHELL MARSH | 70 | 1904 |
| CAMERON BANCROFT | 68 | 1595 |
| JOSH INGLIS | 65 | 1509 |
Most Wickets
| PLAYER | MATCH | WICKETS |
| ANDREW TYE | 98 | 142 |
| JASON BEHRONDOFF | 86 | 107 |
| JHYE RICHARDSON | 62 | 88 |
| ASHTON AGAR | 76 | 57 |
Perth Scorchers Squad:
Stephen Eskinazi, Cameron Bancroft, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis (wk), Ashton Turner (c), Nick Hobson, Cooper Connolly, Andrew Tye, David Payne, Jason Behrendorff, Matthew Kelly, Peter Hatzoglou, Chris Sabburg, Charles Stobo
