The Brisbane Heat head into BBL08 fancied in a number of quarters to push on and win the title. They had a year to forget last season with injuries doing them no favours at all but with a fully fit squad to embark on the campaign with, optimism is high in Queensland that their side can go all the way to the trophy. They are often the best team to watch in the tournament but they would swap that accolade for actual success.
Stats
Last Season: 7th
Captain: Chris Lynn
Overseas Players: Brendon McCullum & Mujeeb-ul-Rahman
Key Player: Chris Lynn
Best Odds: 6/1 Coral
Predicted Finishing Position: 5th
Fixtures
Tuesday December 19 – Adelaide Strikers (h)
Friday December 22 – Hobart Hurricanes (h)
Tuesday January 1 – Sydney Sixers (h)
Saturday January 5 – Perth Scorchers (a)
Tuesday January 8 – Sydney Thunder (a)
Thursday January 10 – Melbourne Renegades (h)
Sunday January 13 – Melbourne Renegades (a)
Thursday January 17 – Sydney Thunder (h)
Sunday January 20 – Sydney Sixers (a)
Sunday January 27 – Melbourne Stars (a)
Tuesday January 29 – Hobart Hurricanes (a)
Friday February 1 – Perth Scorchers (h)
Sunday February 3 – Adelaide Strikers (a)
Friday February 8 – Melbourne Stars (h)
Squad
Max Bryant, Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Brendan Doggett, Sam Heazlett, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Lalor, Chris Lynn, Brendon McCullum (New Zealand), James Pattinson, James Peirson, Jack Prestwidge, Matt Renshaw, Alex Ross, Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan), Mark Steketee, Mitch Swepson
Preview
All eyes will be on the big two of Chris Lynn and Brendon McCullum with the bat to see if they can deliver the sort of firepower that will be needed at The Gabba. Given how hard that ground is to defend it might not be the worst thing in the world that they are taking two matches to the Gold Coast.
Question marks will centre on whether they have enough with the ball to be able to either bowl sides out or restrict teams to low enough totals to get the better of them. With that in mind Mujeeb Ul Rahman is going to be a key figure if he gets the new ball. James Pattinson is a new signing for the Heat and he will need a big season too. Ultimately I see them falling just short of the playoffs.
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Betting
I’m tempted to take Sam Heazlett to be the top Heat batsman given that I’ve backed him outright. If I knew for sure he was going to open I would get involved but there is still that doubt so I’ll give that a miss and if he goes well hopefully he goes well enough to get himself right in among the top scorers in the tournament. I can’t leave the Heat bowling alone though.
The market is centred around James Pattinson and Mujeeb Ul Rahman. In a way that is understandable but Pattinson being fit for two months without missing some cricket is extremely unlikely and I’m not fully into the hype around Mujeeb. It could be that teams have to come out and get stuck into the leg spinner Mitch Swepson. He was considered good enough to go on the tour of India not long ago so he is clearly liked and should be able to get stuck in when he comes on top bowl. Seamers don’t get a lot at The Gabba so at 8/1 I’ll take a chance that the wrist spin of Swepson picks up a fair number of scalps.
Tips
Back M.Swepson Top Brisbane Heat Season Bowler for a 1/10 stake at 9.00 with Bet365
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