BBL7 - Brisbane Heat Season Preview
BBL7 BRISBANE HEAT SEASON PREVIEW
BBL6 Record - 2nd Regular Season, 5 Wins, 3 Losses (Lost in Semi-Final to Sydney Sixers)
Titles - 1
Semi Finals Appearances - 3/6
Current Squad: (Subject to Change) - Max Bryant, Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Brendan Doggett, Jason Floros, Cameron Gannon, Sam Heazlett, Shadab Khan (Pak), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Lalor, Chris Lynn, Brendon McCullum (NZ), Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Alex Ross, Yasir Shah, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson.
Notable Outs: Samuel Badree (WI), Jack Wildermuth (Renegades), Nathan Reardon (Hurricanes)
Notable Ins: Shadab Khan (Pakistan),
Head Coach - Daniel Vettori
SQUAD BREAKDOWN
OVERSEAS RATING - Brendon McCullum and Shadab Khan - The Heat, this year, have a proven and established overseas gun for hire in Brendon McCullum, and one relatively unknown in Shadab Khan. The little pocket rocket McCullum proved a smash hit last year with the Heat, not only with the bat, but with some innovative captaincy for which he has become renowned. McCullum was the 4th leading run scorer in last year’s BBL, leading from the front with 323 runs at an average of 46. Most importantly though, with McCullum’s strike rate of 170, he has the ability to take games away from the opposition. Shadab Khan is a young leg spinner with some big wraps on him. In 10 T20 internationals for Pakistan, he has 14 wickets at an average of 16, and an economy rate of 6.5. A prodigious turner of the ball, as a teenage leg spinner he burst on to the scene in a big way during the 2016/17 PSL season. His ability to take wickets while maintaining an excellent economy rate saw him talked up as potentially one of the most exciting Pakistani prospects in a number of years. With the prospect of Khan being unavailable for part of BB7 through international duty, the Heat have signed fellow Pakistani leg spinner Yasir Shah as their international replacement player. Shah also has a good T20 record with 67 wickets from 79 games at an economy rate of 6.84.
BATTING RATING - The Heat have potentially the most explosive batting line up in BBL7 in their Top 3 batsman. They have two absolute guns for hire and match winners with the bat in Brendon McCullum and Chris Lynn, whilst Jimmy Peirson can be dangerous if he gets going. Both McCullum and Lynn average over 30 with the bat, with McCullum striking at 137 and Lynn at over 145. McCullum is one of the most experienced T20 batsmen and Captain in world cricket, with over 300 games under his belt, so that’s a huge boost for a Heat side containing some younger players. I'm not too convinced about the Heat’s batting lineup underneath these guys, though with Peirson, Renshaw, Hewlett and Labuschagne all with plenty to prove in this format of the game, it’s an inexperienced middle order and I think they might be relying on Joe Burns here if the games get into tight situations. Ben Cutting struggled last year, however he is capable of being very destructive later in the innings.
SPIN BOWLING RATING - The Heat will have some high quality leg spinners in their armoury this year, with youngster Mitchell Swepson alongside Pakistani internationals Shadab Khan and Yasir Shah. Shah has taken 165 Test wickets at 29.44 in just 28 Tests, while in T20 he has 67 career wickets at an economy rate of 6.71. Shah has been signed as a potential replacement for Khan this year, given Khan has started to establish himself in the Pakistan team in the shortest format of the game. Khan could well be one of the weapons of the tournament if he is available given his dynamic form with the ball for Pakistan in the T20 international arena. He has a formidable record in 37 overall T20 games with 47 wickets at an average of 16, with an economy rate of 6.26. Swepson really announced himself on the scene in last year’s BBL, finishing in the top 10 wicket takers with 12 scalps at 21, and a respectable economy rate of 7.50.
FAST BOWLING RATING - There is no doubt the Heat are a bit short here and will need a couple of seamers to step up if they are not to concede some big totals in BBL7. Mark Steketee was by far their best pace bowler last year, becoming somewhat of a real surprise packet in the tournament, taking 15 wickets to be the second leading wicket taker in BBL6 behind Sean Abbott. Steketee was solid up front and became a reliable death commodity with his economy rate in BBL6 a respectable 7.57. Ben Cutting was very disappointing with the ball, so he will need to step up this year, however his overall economy rate of 8.83 is on the high side. The likes of Cameron Gannon, Brendon Dogget, and Josh Lalor have not been established players in the past, so opposition teams will be looking to target those guys should they play.
INDIVIDUAL BREAKDOWN
THE GUN - Chris Lynn – It’s impossible to go past Lynnsanity as the genuine gun for the Brisbane Heat. Lynn, as a six-hitting machine, has fought back from a shoulder reconstruction to headline Brisbane’s upcoming BBL campaign. Lynn, put simply, is the most dominant and destructive player in the BLL, having been crowned the Player of the Tournament for the second straight year, after clobbering 26 sixes and 309 runs in just five matches, before he was struck down by injury. Whilst it might be touch and go as to whether Lynn will be ready for Game 1, I still expect him to have a big impact, as he loves those short straight boundaries of the Gabba.
THE SMOKEY - BEN CUTTING - You never quite know what you’re going to get from Ben Cutting. His bowling can be very expensive, however he also have the ability to take wickets as he likes to bowl two lengths, either very full or very short. His batting was more miss than hit last year, and the Heat haven't really used him too well at times with the bat, coming in really late in the innings. Cutting is one of the longest hitters in the game when he gets his eye in and, whilst he can be all or nothing, there are not many bowlers that would be wanting to drop a ball on a good length to him as he can hit them a long way.
THE POTENTIAL FLOP - Alex Ross - I think teams might have just worked out Alex Ross and he could well struggle for the Heat this year. Ross is an excellent player of spin, with his sweep shot and ability to invent little funky shots making him a difficult customer to bowl to. However, teams really targeted him last year with their faster bowlers and he really struggled with the shorter bowling at the body. His record in T20s is moderate through 30 games, averaging 24 with the bat at an average strike rate of just 122. I can't see Ross facing too much spin bowling this year when he arrives at the crease.
THE CIRCUITER - Alex Ross - If you’re going to be a potential flop you may as well be the best circuiter, and I think Ross has the potential to lead the Heat off the field. I don't know much about the Banana Benders, however Alex Ross just looks loose. He doesn't play a lot of First Class cricket so, with plenty of time on his hands, I expect him to have a crack at the Brisbane circuit.
THE VERDICT AND THE LURKER
THE VERDICT - Just Miss Finals - The Heat should make the finals if everyone is fit and available. I am a little bit worried Chris Lynn might be half fit which could make him a bit rusty and perhaps not as destructive as the past couple of years. What I am certain of this year is this side, win or lose, will be involved in a number of huge scoring games this season, with the Gabba one of the best T20 wickets to bat on with its even pace and bounce and short straight boundaries. Even though their pace bowling looks threadbare, as long as McCullum and Lynn stay fit they have the potential to score close to 200 in several games this season. I also think their leg spinners will prove a smash hit. Unlike some other strong bowling units, this one not only has the ability to contain but take key wickets given they have 3 attacking leg spinners. A key advantage for this squad is the captaincy of McCullum who is hugely experienced under pressure and likely to be worth his weight in gold in a tight finish.
THE LURKER - "The Heat will be a bit Jekyll and Hyde in BBL7. I expect them to throw out some gold with their batting, but paddle a bit with the ball. They look thin on quicks and a bit top heavy with the stick, but if they get rolling they will be sniffing around at finals time."