The young all-rounder at the heart of the champions
Connolly's job is to be the Scorchers' future, playing in the present. He bats left-handed in the middle order, bowls left-arm orthodox spin, and fields brilliantly — the kind of all-rounder who can win a game with bat or ball, and who has already done both at the highest level.
He captained Australia at the 2022 Under-19 World Cup, made his one-day international debut for Australia against England in September 2024, and made his Test debut in Sri Lanka in February 2025. That is a remarkable rise for a player who is still in his early twenties, and it says the national selectors see him as a long-term international. He is contracted through BBL|16, and the Scorchers see him as one of the core players the side is built around — alongside Marsh, Hardie and Agar with the bat.
Squad note: the Scorchers have announced 15 players so far, as of 31 October 2026. The full squad has not been announced — clubs can carry up to 18 players and are still adding names — so this page will be updated as the club confirms more signings.
An Under-19 captain, then a Test debutant
Connolly's rise began at the 2022 Under-19 World Cup, where he captained Australia and showed the leadership and the all-round game that would take him to the top. He made his mark in domestic cricket for Western Australia, where his left-handed batting and left-arm spin made him a regular in both formats.
His international breakthrough came quickly: an ODI debut against England in September 2024, then a Test debut in Sri Lanka in February 2025. He has played white-ball cricket for Australia since, and his BBL career has been with the Scorchers throughout — including the BBL|15 title win, where he was part of the side that beat Sydney Sixers twice in a week. He is a player who has grown up winning, and that shows in the way he plays.
Where he fits in the Scorchers
The Scorchers' side in BBL|16 is built around its core — Marsh, Connolly, Hardie and Agar with the bat — and Connolly is the youngest of them, and the one with the most room to grow. He bats in the middle order, bowls four overs of left-arm spin, and gives the captain a player who can do two jobs in one spot.
His left-arm spin is also part of the plan. The Scorchers' spin group is built around Agar and Connolly's left-arm orthodox, with Harrison's leg-spin and Malajczuk's off-spin as the alternatives — and Connolly's is the one that can tie batters down in the middle overs. At Perth Stadium, where the Scorchers play five home games, his batting against pace will be tested, and his bowling on the bouncy pitch will be hard to play. The title defence starts in Chennai, and Connolly is one of the players it depends on.
The BBL Points Table will carry the standings once the season starts — the Scorchers topped the table last season with 14 points, and the defence of that position starts in Chennai.
What’s next
Cooper Connolly starts BBL|16 in Chennai on 12 December, against the Renegades — the young star of the champions in Scorchers colours for the first time this season.
The full list of every BBL fixture is on the BBL Schedule, with the Chennai opener first.
- Match 1 — vs Melbourne Renegades: Sat 12 Dec, 2:40 PM IST · Chennai
- Match 7 — vs Hobart Hurricanes: Sun 20 Dec, 1:45 PM IST · Perth Stadium
- Match 13 — vs Melbourne Stars: Sat 26 Dec, 3:45 PM IST · Perth Stadium
- vs Adelaide Strikers: Sat 16 Jan · away
Follow every Scorchers result as it happens on SialTV, with the points table updated after every match day.
Frequently asked questions
Did Cooper Connolly captain Australia at the Under-19 World Cup?
Yes. He captained Australia at the 2022 Under-19 World Cup.
When did Cooper Connolly debut for Australia?
He made his ODI debut against England in September 2024 and his Test debut in Sri Lanka in February 2025.
When does Cooper Connolly play his first match for Perth Scorchers?
His first match is Match 1 against Melbourne Renegades on Saturday 12 December 2026, starting at 2:40 PM IST at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai — the first BBL match ever played outside Australia.