Photo Credit: Brisbane Heat
Australian and Queensland batting star, Marnus Labuschagne, will again excite fans around the country in all formats of the game, after signing with the Brisbane Heat for this summer’s KFC Big Bash League.
Labuschagne has agreed to a one-year deal with the Heat and is expected to be available for at least six matches in the back half of the BBL following the end of the South African Test series in January.
Labuschagne, who will be in action tonight for his Premier Cricket club team Redlands in their opening match of the KFC T20 Max competition, played six matches for the Heat in 2020-21 and was instrumental in taking Brisbane to the Finals.
He scored 176 runs at almost 30 and snared 10 crucial wickets as Brisbane made a late competition surge that saw them win the Eliminator and Qualifier Finals before losing to Perth in the Challenger Final in Canberra.
International playing commitments and COVID restrictions meant he was only able to play one game for the Heat last summer.
Labuschagne will link up with fellow Australian and Queensland batting trump Usman Khawaja in the Heat squad this summer for the first time.
Queensland Cricket and Brisbane Heat CEO Terry Svenson said the club was thrilled to have the services of one of Australia’s best players for BBL|12.
“It’s exciting for the fans to know that Marnus will be available for the back end of the tournament, and we’re delighted he can bring his experience and skills to the group for those important matches in January after the conclusion of the South African Test series,’’ he said.
“Marnus is one of the world’s best batsmen and alongside Usman Khawaja, gives the club a strong core to draw upon. He was sensational in our 2020-21 BBL campaign and is a rare, multi-faceted T20 player.”
“We love his enthusiasm and the joy he brings to playing the game and know that there are plenty of boys and girls out there who always nominate him as their favourite player and will strive to emulate him when they get out and play this summer,” Svenson said.
Since making his Test debut in 2018, Labuschagne has played 28 Tests for Australia as well as 21 One Day Internationals, scoring seven Test tons as well as an ODI century, becoming a mainstay of both teams. Labuschagne has also spent most of the past year ranked no.1 in the world among Test batters under the ICC rankings.
He made his T20 International debut earlier this season on the Australian tour of Pakistan, playing in Australia’s three wicket win over the host nation in Lahore.
His last Test appearance in Sri Lanka saw him score 104 in the first innings, only for the home side to turn the tables on the visitors on the way to an outright win.
He will link with his Australian teammates next week in Townsville ahead of the three-match Dettol ODI series against Zimbabwe, which will be followed by a three-match Dettol ODI series against New Zealand in Cairns.
Memberships and tickets for this summer’s Heat WBBL and BBL matches go on-sale to the public today through Ticketek.
The Heat has announced 12 players so far for the BBL, with a further six signings to be completed including three overseas players from the upcoming international player draft this month where Brisbane will have the number three pick overall.
The Heat is also keeping open contract spots on its 2022-23 list to provide opportunities for players who impress in the inaugural KFC T20 Max competition to potentially join the BBL club.
Tonight’s opening round features Valley taking on Gold Coast at Ian Healy Oval from 6.30pm, with Labuschagne’s Redlands side playing Northern Suburbs tomorrow night at Ian Healy Oval from 6.30pm.
2022-23 Brisbane Heat Squad
BBL|12 signings (to date)
Xavier Bartlett
James Bazley
Max Bryant
Sam Heazlett
Usman Khawaja
Matt Kuhnemann
Marnus Labuschagne
Michael Neser
Jimmy Peirson
Mark Steketee
Mitch Swepson
Jack Wildermuth
