Key match-ups, analysis, form, team news, weather forecast, tickets, TV and streaming information, odds, predictions and more ahead of the latest encounter in the 2022/23 Big Bash
Brisbane Heat will host Perth Scorchers in match 37 of the 2022/23 Big Bash, the 12th edition of the tournament.
The game is scheduled to start at 6.40pm local time (8.40am GMT) on Wednesday, January 11.
The game will be played at the Gabba in Brisbane.
Brisbane Heat are lingering near the foot of the Big Bash table - only Melbourne Stars have fewer than their five points to date this season.
Heat have only lost once in three matches, but that includes a washout. They were thrashed by seven wickets by Perth Scorchers just three days ago (January 7), as the Scorchers chased down 172 with 21 balls to spare.
Perth Scorchers continue to challenge right at the top of the league standings. They have six wins from eight matches and are just a point behind league leaders Sydney Sixers.
With the bat, three Perth players have gone through the 200-run barrier in BBL12. Josh Inglis leads the way with 246 at 35 (with a strike rate of 151), Ashton Turner has 217 at 36 (strike rate of 152), and Aaron Hardie has 202 at 34 (strike rate of 147). Brisbane Heat's two leading runscorers in the competition - Colin Munro and Sam Billings - have now departed the Big Bash.
With the ball, Perth Scorchers' three-pronged pace attack have 43 wickets between them in the tournament this season. However, one member - Jhye Richardson - has been ruled out through injury. Only Tom Rogers at Melbourne Renegades has more wickets than Andrew Tye's 16 in BBL12. Only one Brisbane Heat bowler - Matthew Kuhnemann - has an economy rate below 8 in this year's competition.
Perth Scorchers are challenging for top spot in the BBL [Getty Images]
Brisbane Heat's returning Australian internationals absolutely have to chip in with the runs that have been lost with the departures of Sam Billings and Colin Munro. In Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne, Heat are getting a considerable talent boost, but the transition between Test cricket and T20 has to be a fast one if there is going to be any late charge up the table towards a knockout position.
Heat's misfiring bowling attack, which has been shipping runs throughout the campaign, will somehow need to combat a Perth Scorchers batting lineup which is striking at a rapid pace. And the returning Ashton Agar only adds more quality to the lineup.
There is a 30 to 40 per cent chance of rain across the afternoon and early evening in Brisbane. Temperatures are expected to touch 26 degrees Celsius around the scheduled start of play.
Brisbane Heat have Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja available to them following the departures of overseas batsmen Sam Billings and Colin Munro. Matt Renshaw also comes back from international duty.
Jake Wildermuth is out for a week with a back injury, so Nathan McSweeney is retained in the squad as a local replacement player. Josh Brown also retains his place as a replacement for Munro.
Ashton Agar is back in the Perth Scorchers 14-man squad after international duty. David Payne, the overseas replacement for Tymal Mills, could make his debut.
Brisbane Heat: Xavier Bartlett, James Bazley, Max Bryant, Sam Hain, Sam Heazlett, Usman Khawaja, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, Ross Whiteley, Jack Wildermuth, Spencer Johnson, Will Prestwidge, Josh Brown
Perth Scorchers: Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Peter Hatzoglou, Nick Hobson, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kelly, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Stephen Eskinazi, Hamish McKenzie, David Payne (replacement for Tymal Mills for second half of the season)
*Squads are for the whole BBL and not specific to this match
Marnus Labuschagne is back for Brisbane Heat [Getty Images]
Brisbane Heat: Usman Khawaja, Josh Brown, Marnus Labuschagne, Jimmy Peirson, Matt Renshaw, Nathan McSweeney, Ross Whiteley, Matthew Kuhnemann, Michael Neser, Mitchell Swepson, Mark Steketee
Perth Scorchers: Stephen Eskinazi, Cameron Bancroft, Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie, Ashton Turner, Ashton Agar, Matthew Kelly, Andrew Tye, Jason Behrendorff, David Payne, Lance Morris
Brisbane Heat are underdogs with the bookmakers, with a best price available of 26/19. Perth Scorchers are hot favourites at 4/6 in places.
If Brisbane Heat pull off a win here, it would be a big surprise. Perth Scorchers have not been badly affected by departures for other franchise tournaments, and have a great deal of momentum in both batting and bowling departments. Heat are almost the exact opposite. Away win.
Yes. Tickets are available from $8 for children and $22 for adults, and can be bought via Ticketek.
Sky Sports hold the UK rights for the BBL, with coverage split between Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Mix.
Ball-by-ball radio commentary will also be available via BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and BBC Sounds for selected matches.
Fox Sports and Seven Network both have television rights in Australia, while coverage will also be available via the streaming service Kayo. Fox will show every game, while 45 matches, including the knockout stages, will be shown free-to-air on Channel Seven.
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