Photo Credit: Brisbane Heat
THE Heat is on again in Brisbane and to mark the opening of season 11 of the BBL, three of the side’s biggest drawcards are now larger than life for the festive season, courtesy of an eye-catching mural in Fortitude Valley.
Brisbane hit off the new season in Canberra last night (Monday, December 6).
On the eve of the clash, and also on the eve of a Gabba launch for a much-anticipated Ashes series, Australian Test squad spinner Mitch Swepson was impressed as he caught a first-hand look at the imposing Heat mural featuring himself, new skipper Jimmy Peirson and power-hitting crowd favourite, Chris Lynn.
The mural was painted by leading outdoor advertising agency Apparition Media.
“Being a Brissie boy I’ve grown up here; this is my town, I’ve always lived here so to see my rare mug on a building is pretty surreal,” said Swepson at the Valley site, on the corner of Gipps and Wickham streets.
“It’s a big year for us. We had a really good year last year and the boys want to go a bit better again and go all the way this year.”
The 28-year-old leg spinner, who has taken 48 wickets in 49 BBL games with Brisbane, continues to play a patient waiting game for his Test debut. In the meantime, he looks forward to again pulling on the teal of the Heat – even if being in the Australian squad may delay that slightly.
And in good news for fans, Swepson still hopes he may be available for the Heat’s first home game of BBL 11 next Monday, December 13 at Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium – even if the ongoing switch between formats can be challenging.
“The modern-day cricketer has to be able to transition between red and white-ball cricket. Coming back from the T20 World Cup (in the United Arab Emirates and Oman) and switching over to the red ball is something I’ve been focusing on in quarantine.”
Swepson hopes his appearances in the teal can even be as part of the “ultimate spin attack” of all three tweakers on the Heat list, alongside Matt Kuhnemann and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
“I’d love to see it, the more spinners the better.
“It’s been great to watch Matty Kuhnemann bowl while I’ve been overseas; to see his development over the last few games for Queensland has been a long time coming but for him to get an opportunity in my absence has been really good to watch.
“And how good to also to have Mujeeb back? He’s just gone from strength to strength since signing with us three years ago. I think he’ll be one of the hardest bowlers to get away in the Big Bash.”
Despite the first-up hiccup against the Thunder, Swepson is upbeat about the Heat’s prospects over the summer.
“We’ve kept a good core group of players now – there are guys who have been there for three, four, even five years, the guys like Chris Lynn and Jimmy Peirson; plus young guys like Max Bryant and Sammy Heazlett that have also been around for three or four years … and then some emerging players.
“When you put all that in the mix, it makes for a really good combination.”The Brisbane Heat’s first Gabba game of the season will be a return clash against the Thunder on Sunday, December 19. Further games will light up the Gabba on Monday, December 27 (v Stars); Saturday, January 8 (v Hurricanes) and Wednesday, January 12 (v Strikers); along with a Gabba day game (Wednesday, January 19 v Scorchers) and a second Metricon Stadium game on Tuesday, January 4 (v Sixers).
