Quick Answer
Sydney Sixers head into BBL 2026-27 (BBL|16) in the middle of a genuinely chaotic off-season — the club has had three different head coaches within a single calendar year, and for the first time in over a decade, they don’t yet have a confirmed captain. After long-serving coach Greg Shipperd departed in January 2026, James Hopes took over but left just two months later; the role has now settled with Matthew Mott, a four-time World Cup-winning coach, on a two-year deal. Adding to the reshuffle, club legend and three-time BBL champion Moises Henriques has retired after not being offered a new contract, leaving the Sixers actively searching for a new men’s captain. The team plays home matches at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), wears its unmistakable pink/magenta uniform, and has already retained key names including Steve Smith, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Josh Philippe, and new signing Ollie Davies.
There’s one detail casual fans often miss here: Henriques is the most-capped player in BBL history (154 matches, 129 of them as captain), and his retirement isn’t just the departure of one player — it genuinely marks the end of an era, since he captained the club through all three of its titles. You can follow all the latest BBL news and squad updates on CRIC INFO 365.
Who Are the Sydney Sixers and What’s Their BBL History?
The Sydney Sixers are one of the Big Bash League’s eight founding franchises, formed in 2011, with the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) as their home. According to cricket.com.au’s coverage of Henriques’ retirement, the club has won three BBL titles — in 2011-12 (the inaugural season), 2019-20, and 2020-21 — and Moises Henriques captained the side in all three.
One notable detail: the Sixers won their very first BBL final in 2011-12, beating Perth Scorchers, with Henriques earning player of the match for a 70 off just 41 balls. The club then added back-to-back titles in 2019-20 and 2020-21, both in tight, low-scoring finals.
Since then, though, the story has taken a different shape — the Sixers have finished as runners-up three times (2021-22, 2023-24, and most recently BBL|15 in 2025-26), on each occasion losing to Perth Scorchers, which has become one of the league’s most genuinely lopsided rivalries.
Why Has This Been Such a Turbulent Off-Season for the Sixers?
This is the most important context for anything else in this article. According to Wikipedia’s coverage of the 2026-27 BBL season, the Sixers have been through three separate coaching transitions in the past 12 months:
- Greg Shipperd, the club’s coach since 2015-16 (more than a decade in charge), departed in January 2026.
- James Hopes was brought in to replace him, but left after just two months, moving to Queensland.
- Finally, Matthew Mott — who was already with the club as BBL assistant coach and WBBL head coach — was promoted into the BBL head coach role on a two-year deal.
Alongside this, Moises Henriques’ retirement is a genuinely significant story in its own right. According to cricket.com.au’s detailed report, Henriques was not offered a contract for BBL|16 despite having captained the side to the Final in BBL|15. He had interest from other clubs but chose to end his 22-year professional career with NSW and the Sixers rather than continue elsewhere. Henriques isn’t retiring from cricket altogether, though — he’s set to represent his birth nation, Portugal, in the qualifying pathway for the 2028 T20 World Cup.
The net result: BBL|16 arrives with the Sixers needing both a new coach and a new captain at the same time — a genuinely rare situation for an established franchise to face.
What Does the Sydney Sixers Logo Represent?
The Sydney Sixers’ branding is built around their distinctive pink/magenta colour — one of the boldest and most instantly recognisable kits in the league. This colour identity has remained consistent since the club’s 2011 founding, and fans affectionately refer to the team as the “Pink Army.”
This article does not reproduce the club’s official crest, since it’s a trademarked asset owned by Cricket Australia and Cricket NSW. For the most accurate, current visual reference, the official Sydney Sixers website remains the best source.
What Colour Jersey Do the Sydney Sixers Wear?
The Sixers have worn a bright pink/magenta uniform since their founding — one of the most iconic and recognisable kits in the league, instantly distinguishing them from the navy, orange, or green worn by rival clubs.
No official reveal of a specific new kit design for BBL 2026-27 has been confirmed publicly at the time of writing. The official Sydney Sixers news page is the best place to check for confirmed details as the 12 December 2026 season start approaches.
Who Is Captaining Sydney Sixers in BBL 2026-27?
This is the most honest answer in this article: it isn’t confirmed yet. Moises Henriques, captain since 2011 and the most-capped skipper in BBL history (129 matches as captain), has retired, and the club is actively searching for his successor.
This is a genuinely unusual situation — most BBL franchises have established succession plans in place, but Henriques was such a central figure for the Sixers (also the club’s all-time leading run-scorer, with 3,410 runs) that replacing him isn’t a simple decision. Names being discussed include senior players already contracted to the squad, such as Steve Smith or Sean Abbott, both experienced international campaigners.
Who Is Coaching the Team This Season?
Matthew Mott is the Sydney Sixers’ new BBL head coach, on a two-year deal. According to ESPNcricinfo’s report, Mott is the club’s third head coach within this single calendar year — following Greg Shipperd (who departed in January 2026) and James Hopes (who lasted just two months in the role).
Mott is a genuinely accomplished figure in world cricket — a four-time World Cup-winning coach, who led Australia’s women’s team to a world-record streak of 26 consecutive ODI victories. He was already part of the Sixers set-up last season, serving as both BBL assistant coach and WBBL head coach. The club decided to keep the BBL and WBBL head coaching roles separate going forward (since the two competitions’ scheduling windows could shift independently in future), and Mott chose to step away from the WBBL role to focus fully on the BBL side.
Mott himself put it this way: “This is a club with a proud history and a winning culture, and I’m looking forward to building on the foundations that have been established over many seasons.”
Who Are the Confirmed Players in the 2026-27 Squad?
Despite the coaching and captaincy uncertainty, the Sixers have already locked in several important pieces of their playing roster. According to cricket.com.au’s official squad tracker, confirmed names include:
- Steve Smith — confirmed for BBL|16, genuine star power
- Sean Abbott — the most prolific men’s bowler in competition history, contracted
- Ben Dwarshuis — experienced left-armer, signed until BBL|17
- Josh Philippe — wicketkeeper-batter, returning
- Joel Davies and Lachlan Shaw — breakout stars, returning
- Ollie Davies — new signing on a three-year deal, reuniting with his brother Joel “in magenta”
- Fergus O’Neill — lured from Melbourne Renegades on a two-year contract
Notable free agent: Mitchell Starc, who produced a sensational comeback in the second half of BBL|15 and helped the Sixers reach the Final, remains uncontracted.
Worth noting: according to cricket.com.au’s reporting, the Sixers have been the league’s most active club this off-season — across coaching changes and player signings alike.
Actionable step: to track the final roster and the new captaincy announcement, bookmark cricket.com.au’s squad page, which is updated live.
What Is Sydney Sixers’ Track Record in the BBL?
Here’s the club’s record, based on data compiled from Wikipedia’s Sydney Sixers archives:
| Season | Position | Finals Result | Coach | Captain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 (BBL|01) | 3rd | Champions | Trevor Bayliss | Moises Henriques |
| 2015–16 (BBL|05) | 8th | Did not qualify | Greg Shipperd | Moises Henriques |
| 2019–20 (BBL|09) | — | Champions (2nd title) | Greg Shipperd | Moises Henriques |
| 2020–21 (BBL|10) | 1st | Champions (3rd title) | Greg Shipperd | Moises Henriques |
| 2021–22 (BBL|11) | 2nd | Runners-up | Greg Shipperd | Moises Henriques |
| 2023–24 (BBL|13) | 2nd | Runners-up | Greg Shipperd | Moises Henriques |
| 2025–26 (BBL|15) | — | Runners-up | Greg Shipperd | Moises Henriques |
| 2026–27 (BBL|16) | — | Season yet to begin | Matthew Mott | Captain TBC |
This table alone shows just how central Henriques was — he was captain in literally every single season listed, including all three title wins. And all three of the recent runners-up finishes (2021-22, 2023-24, 2025-26) came against Perth Scorchers, making that rivalry one of the league’s most defining storylines.
BBL|16 now represents genuinely uncharted territory for the club: the first season without Henriques, the first without Shipperd, and a brand-new coach who has already won multiple World Cups but is about to begin his first season as a BBL head coach.
FAQs
Who is the captain of Sydney Sixers for BBL 2026-27?
Not yet confirmed. Longtime captain Moises Henriques retired after not being offered a new contract, and the club is actively searching for his replacement.
Who is the Sydney Sixers head coach?
Matthew Mott, a four-time World Cup-winning coach, has been appointed on a two-year deal — the club’s third head coach within a single calendar year.
Why did the Sixers have three coaches in one year?
Long-serving coach Greg Shipperd departed in January 2026; his replacement, James Hopes, left after just two months to take a role with Queensland and Brisbane Heat; Matthew Mott, previously the club’s BBL assistant and WBBL head coach, was then appointed.
How many BBL titles have Sydney Sixers won?
Three — in 2011-12, 2019-20, and 2020-21 — all under captain Moises Henriques.
What colour jersey do Sydney Sixers wear?
Their signature pink/magenta uniform, a colour identity maintained since the club’s 2011 founding.
Why did Moises Henriques retire?
He was not offered a new contract for BBL|16 and, after some deliberation and a back surgery earlier in the year, decided to end his 22-year Australian domestic career rather than join a rival club.
Who are the confirmed Sydney Sixers players for BBL|16?
Confirmed names include Steve Smith, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Josh Philippe, Joel Davies, Lachlan Shaw, Ollie Davies, and Fergus O’Neill, with Mitchell Starc still a free agent.
Where do Sydney Sixers play their home matches?
The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
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