Photo Credit: Brisbane Heat
Fresh from a career high point, the Brisbane Heat have re-signed wicket-keeper Jimmy Peirson for a further two years as well as securing batsman Sam Heazlett and paceman Mark Steketee on new deals.
Peirson yesterday charged to his maiden first class century for the Queensland Bulls as they took control of their Marsh Sheffield Shield match against South Australia in Adelaide.
The Bulls and Heat wicket-keeper has been in sparkling touch with the bat this summer so far, hitting three centuries for Redlands in the Bulls Masters First Grade competition and two half centuries for Queensland so far in the Shield season.
Peirson has played 60 matches for the Heat since joining the club in 2014-15 and has taken 26 catches and 13 stumpings.
Steketee, who represented Australia ‘A’ last summer against the English Lions, has also signed for a further two years to stay in teal for BBL|10 and BBL|11 after initially joining the club in 2013-14 as an injury replacement.
The Warwick product is the all-time second leading wicket-taker for Brisbane, claiming 42 dismissals so far.
Heazlett, who has played ODI cricket for Australia, has been among the dominant batsmen in Premier Cricket so far this season, hitting his fourth century for Redlands over the weekend.
The left-handed top order batsman, who is also an outstanding fieldsman, is the second leading runs-scorer in the competition with 610 runs at 76.25.
Heazlett has agreed to a new three-year deal which ties him to the Heat until BBL|12.
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Heat coach Darren Lehmann, who was in Adelaide yesterday to witness Peirson’s breakthrough innings, said he was delighted to secure the trio of core Queensland players for the future.
“Everyone was so pleased for Jimmy and that innings is a great reward for the hard work he has put in with Wade Seccombe and the Bulls coaching staff,’’ he said.
“He’s a great team man and during his time with the Heat, he has cheerfully accepted whatever role has been asked of him and got it done with the minimum of fuss. He’s a great keeper and has developed an effective partnership keeping to the spinners like Mitch Swepson and Mujeeb Ur Rahman,’’ he said.
“There’s been some really good signs from Mark Steketee this year. His pace and control have been very evident during training and the Shield games I have watched and he will tick some specific boxes for us during the BBL.”
Lehmann said Heazlett was poised to be a key performer for the Heat in BBL|10.
“There are few more damaging batsmen than ‘Haz’ when he gets going and we are quite confident there will be ample opportunities this season for him to showcase his skills.”
“He’s been in rare touch for Redlands in both short and longer format cricket so far and I’m he will be raring to go when we get together soon.”
“I think his fielding is one of the very under-rated aspects of his game. He covers tons of ground and regularly saves us 10 or more runs with his speed and his anticipation in the outfield. He’s got a lovely safe pair of hands too so that all adds up when you are trying to put pressure on batting teams as they chase or try to set a target.”
Lehmann said the team would begin to assemble from next week for training and pre-tournament preparations.
The Heat open its season in Canberra on 11 December against the Melbourne Stars followed by a clash with the Sydney Thunder on 14 December at Manuka Oval before returning home to play the next block of games.
The newly revamped Gabba and Metricon Stadium will host Heat home games as well as neutral matches once the competition reverts to Queensland from 23 December.
The Heat will host the Adelaide Strikers at the Gabba on 23 December and the Hobart Hurricanes on 27 December as well as being the ‘away’ team on 30 December when they clash with the Hurricanes in the return clash at the Gabba.
Venues for matches scheduled in the New Year will be announced in the coming weeks, with additional games earmarked for the Gabba and Metricon Stadium.
The Heat have announced the following players so far for BBL|10:
Tom Banton (Eng)
Max Bryant
Joe Burns
Tom Cooper (NEW)
Lewis Gregory (NEW, Eng)
Sam Heazlett
Matthew Kuhnemann
Marnus Labuschagne
Ben Laughlin
Chris Lynn
Morne Morkel (NEW)
Jimmy Peirson
Mark Steketee
Mitch Swepson
Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan)
Jack Wildermuth (NEW)
