The Brisbane Heat will welcome back international Tom Banton for tomorrow night’s important New Year’s Day KFC Big Bash League clash against the Perth Scorchers at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast.
Banton missed the Heat’s last game against the Sydney Sixers just prior to Christmas with a virus but has trained without incident this week and was named today in the Heat’s 13-man squad for tomorrow night.
His inclusion is the only change to the squad that defeated the Sxers at the SCG, with the English batsman taking the spot of leg-spinner Mitch Swepson who is with the Australian Test squad preparing for the Sydney Test against New Zealand at the SCG from Friday.
Left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann retains his spot in the squad and the Gold Coast local would play his first match of the BBL this summer if chosen to start tomorrow night.
Banton, 21, caught the eye with his knock against the Stars at Metricon Stadium, crashing 64 from just 36 balls.
Brisbane will play three matches in quick succession, travelling to Hobart on Thursday to take on the Hurricanes at Blundstone Arena on Friday night and then going to Sydney to take on the Thunder at Spotless Stadium on Monday 6 January.
Tickets are selling quickly through Ticketek for the third game of BBL|09 to be staged on the Gold Coast, with the Heat chasing their first victory at the venue after falling short against the Melbourne Stars earlier in the tournament.
Ticket prices for Heat home games have again been maintained at family-friendly level, with adults from $22, kids from $8 and a family from just $48 for two adults and two children.*
