The keeper who scored his way in
Curtis's job is to be the Scorchers' second keeper — and to push the first-choice keeper for his place. He is a left-handed wicketkeeper-batter who bats in the top order for Western Australia, and his domestic form in the last two seasons has been extraordinary.
The numbers tell the story. In 2024-25, playing for Perth in WA Premier Cricket, he scored 972 runs at 81, with six centuries in 14 innings, and won the Olly Cooley Medal as the competition's best player. In 2025-26, he was WA's One-Day Player of the Year, finishing third in the competition for runs with 431 at 61.57 and a strike rate of 111.36. He made his first-class debut for WA on 28 November 2023 against Queensland, and his unbeaten 119 from 239 balls against Victoria — deputising behind the stumps for Josh Inglis — showed he could bat long as well as fast.
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.
From Premier Cricket to the BBL
Curtis's rise was not straightforward. He was a founding member of the Rod Marsh Wicketkeeping Academy, broke into WA's second XI in 2022-23, and earned his first state contract after playing eight of WA's 10 Shield matches in 2024-25, taking 21 dismissals and scoring 295 runs.
His BBL chance came as a local replacement player for Josh Inglis, who was with the Australian Test squad for the Ashes, and he made his Scorchers debut in a tense win over the Adelaide Strikers at Optus Stadium. The club re-signed him on a one-year deal for BBL|16, and the general manager Kade Harvey called him an extremely dangerous wicketkeeper-batter across formats. With Inglis not re-signed and Aneurin Donald the new first-choice keeper, Curtis is the back-up — and the player most likely to step in if Donald is injured or rested.
Where he fits in the Scorchers
The Scorchers have two wicketkeepers in BBL|16 — Donald, the overseas signing, and Curtis, the WA local — and Curtis is the one who knows the club, the ground and the conditions. His left-handed batting gives the side a different option at the top of the order, and his keeping is sharp enough to have taken 21 dismissals in eight Shield matches.
His role this season is likely to be as reserve keeper, coming in when Donald is rested or injured, and his domestic form says he will be ready. He has already shown he can score runs at every level — Premier Cricket, Shield, One-Day Cup — and the BBL is the next step. If he gets his chance, the Scorchers will know quickly whether he is a future first-choice keeper or a career back-up.
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
Joel Curtis starts BBL|16 in Chennai on 12 December, against the Renegades — the Olly Cooley medallist 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
What is the Olly Cooley Medal?
It is the award for WA Premier Cricket's best player, voted by the umpires. Joel Curtis won it in 2024-25 after scoring 972 runs at 81 with six centuries for Perth.
When did Joel Curtis make his Scorchers debut?
In BBL|15, in a tense win over the Adelaide Strikers at Optus Stadium, after joining as a local replacement player for Josh Inglis.
When does Joel Curtis 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.