Photo Credit: Brisbane Heat
Hard-hitting allrounder Jack Wood is keen to hit the right note when he suits up again for the Brisbane Heat in next month’s KFC Big Bash League.
Wood, 27, has signed as the club’s 18th contracted player for BBL|13, his first full contract with the club after making his debut as a Local Replacement Player in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Laidley product also played a BBL game in 2022, again as an LRP as part of a COVID-affected Heat squad at the Gabba.
An electrician by trade, Wood has also embarked on a promising career as a singer-songwriter, playing gigs on a regular basis while playing T20 cricket at interstate and Premier Cricket level.
Wood was a stand-out for Ipswich in this year’s KFC T20 Max competition, finishing as the joint leading runs-scorer with 379 runs at 54.14 with a strike-rate of 160.59.
The right-hander, who also bowls left-arm wrist spin, also earned international headlines with a player of the match innings of 101 not out from 59 balls for the Northern Territory as they defeated Pakistan ‘A’ in Darwin in the Final of the Top End Series in August.
Wood has also played T20 Premier Cricket for Port Adelaide in Adelaide and Randwick-Petersham in Sydney and was a Queensland Bulls contracted player in 2020-21.
Heat coach Wade Seccombe said Wood brought multiple skills to the playing group.
“Originally, we signed him as a spin bowler who can bat, but the past year or so has really switched that perception and the development of his T20 batting has established him as a dangerous option anywhere in the order,’’ he said.
“He made the most of his opportunities in the KFC T20 Max competition this year, where he was one of the stand-out performers for the Hornets and that level of return in a quality competition has us confident in what he can bring to the squad.”
“His bowling has a bit of x-factor as well and gives us some additional options,”— Wade Seccombe
The Heat can also sign Local Replacement Players to cover contracted players who may be injured or required for national playing commitments during the competition.
The Heat will open the KFC BBL season on Thursday 7 December against the Melbourne Stars at the Gabba.
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