Photo Credit: Brisbane Heat
The Brisbane Heat has secured the prize signature of one of the world’s best batsmen, Marnus Labuschagne, for this summer’s KFC Big Bash League.
Labuschagne has re-signed for BBL|11 after a ground-breaking six-game stint with the Heat last season as he helped Brisbane to charge into the BBL finals for the first time since BBL|06.
The Heat won through to host the club’s first semi-final since 2016-17, going on to win the ‘Eliminator’ and “Knock-Out’ finals before losing in the ‘Challenger’ to Perth to finish in third spot.
His efforts with bat and ball played an important role in that success, including a score of 49 off 31 balls against the Melbourne Renegades in Melbourne, 46 off 38 balls against the Perth Scorchers, and 10 wickets in six games, including a career-best return of 3-13 in the Eliminator Final win over the Adelaide Strikers at the Gabba.
Labuschagne, a first-time winner of the Ian Healy Trophy last season as Queensland’s best player, has resumed pre-season training in Brisbane after a playing stint with Glamorgan in English county cricket where he scored four half centuries in eight T20 games, averaging over 55 with the bat with a strike rate of over 140 and taking nine wickets.
Brisbane Heat head coach Wade Seccombe welcomed the addition of the multi-skilled Labuschagne to the squad.
“Marnus makes a huge impact in a game, with bat, ball and in the field, and that is something you always like your senior players to do,’’ he said.
“He has the knack of making a lot of key plays in a game, and his enthusiasm, passion and leadership on the field has a positive effect on his teammates.”
“We’re absolutely delighted to have him with the team again and look forward to having him in the line-up when he is available this summer,” Seccombe said.
Since making his debut in 2016-17, Labuschagne has played 16 matches for the Heat, growing in confidence and influence with each BBL season.
As well as another impressive Test series with Australia, where he finished as the series leading runs-scorer against India with 426 runs at 53.25 and the highest average of any Australian batsman, Labuschagne finished his 2020-21 season in style as Queensland won the Marsh Sheffield Shield.
His 192 in the Shield Final victory against NSW saw him finish with 821 runs in Shield cricket, including four centuries and an average of 82.10.
