Brisbane's Bash Brothers are back

Heat chasing first win since BBL|02

After a semi-final appearance last season, the heat is on for Brisbane to win go one better and win their second Big Bash title.

What’s their BBL pedigree?

It’s not bad. They won the BBL|02 in 2013, until last year they were enduring a barren spell, but made it back to the knockouts last season after three seasons outside the top four.

Who’s in charge?

Coach: Dan Vettori, he was the youngest player to play Test cricket for New Zealand, at the tender age of 18. After an 18-year international career he turned to coaching, and that’s going pretty well too.

This will be Vettori’s third season in charge of the Heat, the former Blackcap also coaches the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL and Middlesex in the T20 Blast.

Skipper: Brendon McCullum, one half of the aptly named ‘Bash Brothers’ alongside Chris Lynn at the top of the order, McCullum is out to prove again that he’s one of the worlds best. He scored 323 runs last season at 46.14 in his first year at The Gabba. The New Zealander jas just signed a two-year contract extension with Brisbane.

Who are the big names?

The aforementioned Lynn (#Lynsanity) is arguably Brisbane’s most important batsman. He underwent his second shoulder surgery earlier this year though, so there are question marks over whether the man with the most sixes in BBL history, will be quite the same player this year.

Brisbane is also home to Pakistani leg spinners Shadab Khan and Yasir Shah this year.

Khan will start the season but as teams in the BBL are only allowed to play two foreign players, former No.1 bowler in the world Yasir Shah is a backup in case Khan gets called up to international duty.

Coach Dan Vettori is confident that this replacement option will give stability to their season.

“Having Yasir agree to join us as a replacement player means that we can plan for the series with some certainty,’’ Heat coach Dan Vettori said.

“Shadab Khan has been going from strength to strength for Pakistan since signing with us and there is the possibility he could be required for international duty during the BBL.

“Having an experienced ‘like for like’ player such as Yasir to call upon means we can hopefully have continuity with our playing plans.”

The Gabba

The fast pitch at the Gabba suits the Heat perfectly. The ball comes onto the bats of McCullum and Lynn nicely and when playing at home this top order are capable of some truly remarkable totals.

As well as just making runs, the Bash Brothers certainly put bums in seats too. Last season Brisbane had an average attendance of 34,190 which was the third best in BBL|06.

What are their chances this season?

The Heat are right in the middle of the pack with the bookies this year. They stand as fourth favourites for the title. Which would mean at least a trip to the semi-finals.

Former Aussie captain Ricky Ponting thinks they’ll go one better though, he picked them to finish 3^rd, behind the Perth Scorchers and the Melbourne Renegades.

Squad

Brendon McCullum*, Max Bryant, Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Brendan Doggett, Jason Floros, Cameron Gannon, Sam Heazlett, Shadab Khan (International), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Lalor, Chris Lynn, Jimmy Peirson, Matt Renshaw, Alex Ross, Mitchell Swepson, Mark Steketee, Cameron Valente, Yasir Shah.

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