The Brisbane Heat have announced their squad for the much-anticipated season opener of the KFC Big Bash League (BBL15). The match is set to kick off against the Melbourne Renegades at Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium.
Key Player Returns
Left-arm spinner Paddy Dooley is returning to the Heat as a Local Replacement Player for Matt Kuhnemann, who is recovering from a side strain. Dooley, who made his BBL debut in the 2020-21 season, has gained valuable experience since then.
Dooley’s Background
- Age: 28 years
- Previous Teams: Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes
- BBL Performance: 25 wickets at an economy rate of 7.59
- Average: 20.60
In addition to Dooley, the Heat have added left-arm quick Liam Haskett to their initial squad following approval from the BBL Technical Committee.
New Faces and Debutants
Haskett, 24 years old, has previously played two BBL matches for the Adelaide Strikers. The towering paceman, standing at 200 cm, is among five potential debutants for the Heat in their opening match, which includes:
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Oli Patterson
- Hugh Weibgen
- Lachlan Hearne
Team Updates and Strategies
Due to ongoing commitments, key players Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, and Michael Neser will miss the game as they prepare for the Ashes Test. Nathan McSweeney will captain the Heat, having previously led the team to the BBL Final victory last season.
Coaching Remarks
Coach Johan Botha expressed confidence in the team’s depth, highlighting the experience that Dooley brings. The Heat are optimistic about the recovery of Kuhnemann and English import Tom Alsop, who is dealing with knee soreness.
Upcoming Match Details
The Brisbane Heat will train today at GMHBA Stadium before the match against the Renegades. This clash marks the fourth encounter between the two teams at this venue, with Brisbane winning two matches and Melbourne winning one.
The match is scheduled for tomorrow at 6:15 PM Queensland time and will be available for live broadcasting on multiple platforms, including Channel 7, 7Plus, Foxtel, and Kayo.
Player Injury Summary
| Player | Injury |
|---|---|
| Matt Kuhnemann | Side strain |
| Tom Alsop | Knee soreness |
| Spencer Johnson | Back injury |
| Callum Vidler | Back injury |
Brisbane Heat Squad for BBL15 Season Opener
- Shaheen Shah Afridi (International)
- Xavier Bartlett
- Max Bryant
- Paddy Dooley (Local Replacement Player)
- Liam Haskett (Local Replacement Player)
- Lachlan Hearne
- Nathan McSweeney (captain)
- Colin Munro (International)
- Oli Patterson
- Jimmy Peirson
- Matthew Renshaw
- Hugh Weibgen
- Jack Wildermuth
