The Cricketer's in-depth look at the Heat ahead of the new campaign, including player analysis, strengths, weaknesses, and full squad and fixtures listings
Coach: Wade Seccombe
Wade Seccombe returns as the head coach for the Brisbane Heat after taking over from Darren Lehmann for BBL11. He made a rocky start ot his tenure, winning just three matches from a possible 14 as Heat finished seventh in the table. He will be hoping to turn his side's fortunes around in 2022/23.
Captain: Usman Khawaja
Australia international Usman Khawaja has been installed as captain ahead of his first season with the Heat. No slouch to the short format of the game, Khawaja boasts a high score of 109 not out and a strike rate a shade under 130 from 59 matches prior to BBL12.The 35-year-old, formerly of Sydney Thunder, adds expereince in bucket loads to the Heat and also serves as captain of Queensland Bulls.
Overseas stars
Sam Billings: England international Billings was the club's platinum pick in the first ever BBL draft. The 31-year-old is no novice when referring to his involvement in the BBL, previously representing both Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers. A wicketkeeper-batter, both his 360-degree batting and leadership experience with Kent and Oval Invincibles will be assets for Brisbane Heat. Billings comes into BBL12 with a strike rate of just under 144 across his T20 career while during last year's Big Bash he averaged 40.57 with the bat over nine innings.
Colin Munro: Former New Zealand international Munro played an integral part of Perth Scorchers' BBL11 victory, averaging 43.33 from 13 innings and racking up 390 runs at a strike rate of 127.45. Munro, who was once the No.1-ranked T20 international batter, adds a touch of star quality to Heat's roster and adds to their bank of experienced players: he has played over 350 T20 matches across his career, including stints in the IPL, CPL, PSL, T20 Blast and The Hundred, and has scored more than 50 T20 half-centuries.
Sam Hain: After years of consistent white-ball performances, Sam Hain has finally been rewarded with a franchise contract. The Warwickshire batter, who grew up in Queensland, heads into BBL12 with over 2,800 runs to his name and a career strike rate in excess of 130. A proven run-scorer, only once in seven T20 Blast campaigns has he failed to score more than 350 runs.
Ross Whiteley: The third English player on Heat's roster, Ross Whiteley is a veteran batter and occasional pace bowler. The 34-year-old has scored nearly 3,000 T20 runs at a strike rate in excess of 140, including contributing 231 runs to Hampshire's T20 Blast-winning campaign in 2022. A middle-order batter, his T20 skills have earned him stints in both The Hundred and the PSL.
Colin Munro has joined Brisbane Heat from Perth Scorchers [Brendon Thorne/Getty Images]
Changes from 2021/22
Brisbane Heat have rung the changes ahead of BBL12, notably opting for Khawaja ahead of Jimmy Peirson as captain.
Chris Lynn has joined Adelaide Strikers, a huge loss for the Heat and exactly why they targeted players like Munro and Billings in the draft, while there has been a reshuffle of overseas players. Ben Duckett and Tom Abell have both departed.
Matt Renshaw has returned to Brisbane Heat after spending two seasons with the Strikers. During his first stint with the Heat, he scored 549 runs and took six wickets in 24 outings.
How did they do in 2021/22?
It was a tournament to forget for Brisbane Heat, who finished in seventh position: this step back was definitely not what Seccombe would have wanted after taking over from Lehmann. His team only managed three victories throughout the tournament, leaving them just above the Renegades on net run rate, and finished the season with a five-match losing streak.
Best finish: Champions (BBL02)
BATTING
Power hitters
No player has scored more runs than former Heat batter Lynn and his ability to hit it out of the park makes him near-irreplaceable. However, Brisbane have tried their best with the likes of Munro and Billings.
Also, with Max Bryant at the top of the order they have another big-hitter. Bryant holds the record for most runs scored in a six-over powerplay showing he has the abilities to go hard at the white ball. The Aussie has a career strike rate of 132.63 in the BBL.
Anchor
Marnus Labuschagne returns for the Heat after signing a one-year deal in August. The Australia international has taken the Test and 50-over scene by storm and is now regarded as one of the best batters in the world. Labuschagne is expected to be available for six of Heat's games during his stint and is an ideal anchor thanks to his impeccable timing and quick running between the wickets. Likewise, Khawaja fits this mould.
Finisher
Wicketkeeper-batter Peirson will look to be the Heat's finisher, with his explosive batting power being exactly what is required for such a role. Although Peirson struggled during last year's BBL, he's the perfect man for the job and without the burden of captaincy he can loosen up his shoulders and go big.
Problem areas
Brisbane Heat were not short on batting talent or experience last year but still found themselves at the wrong end of the table. With a host of new faces - Munro, Khawaja, and Billings - and players coming in and out due to international commitments, the Heat could struggle to gel as a batting unit.
Marnus Labuschagne should be available for a handful of matches [Matt Roberts/Getty Images]
BOWLING
Speed merchants
Mark Steketee is known for his rapid speed and irritable bounce and has enjoyed a successful career in the BBL to date, picking up 78 wickets. BBL10 was a standout for the Australian, with his 24 wickets helping send the Heat into the finals. Steketee will hope to find this form again with support from Michael Neser after the allrounder was recruited from the Adelaide Strikers - another international talent that the Heat have brought to their roster.
Variation
Mitchell Swepson will look to make an impact with his right-arm leg-spin. Swepson has been at the Heat since 2015 and has kept his wicket-taking threat constant throughout his time at the club. Alongside Swepson, Labuschagne will also get a bowl in the tournament with his unpredictable leg spin causing havoc in previous T20 competitions. Matthew Kuhnemann, meanwhile, will hope his left-arm spin will be utilised after the Heat parted ways with Mujeeb ur Rahman.
Problem Areas
The likes of Neser and Swepson are always on the fringes of international cricket, which could restrict their availability and leave the bowling attack short. Heat do have players like Xavier Bartlett and James Bazley, but this is a big step down in quality and the bowling attack could become vulnerable and expensive.
Bartlett, for example, has an economy rate of 8.32 and averages 24.65 with the ball. His wicket-taking ability is plain to see - he has 23 wickets over the last two BBL competitions - but his expensiveness is holding him back.
Mark Steketee is a dangerous operator for Brisbane Heat [Steve Bell/Getty Images]
Who takes the gloves?
This year the Brisbane Heat are spoiled for choice with keeper options with both Billings and Peirson being accomplished glovemen. Billings is also lightning in the field and with Peirson having the gloves last year it makes sense that the former Heat captain gets to retain his spot.
Squad: Xavier Bartlett, James Bazley, Sam Billings, Max Bryant, Sam Hain, Sam Heazlett, Usman Khawaja, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Colin Munro, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, Ross Whiteley, Jack Wildermuth, Spencer Johnson, Will Prestwidge, Josh Brown
Fixtures: December 15 - Melbourne Renegades (Cazalys Stadium, 8.15am GMT), December 21 - Melbourne Renegades (GMHBA Stadium, 8.15am), December 23 – Adelaide Strikers (The Gabba, 8am), December 27 – Sydney Thunder (Sydney Showground Stadium, 8.15am), December 29 – Sydney Thunder (Metricon Stadium, 7.05am), January 1 – Sydney Sixers (The Gabba, 8.15am), January 4 - Sydney Sixers (North Sydney Oval, 7.05am), January 7 - Perth Scorchers (Optus Stadium, 10.15am), January 11 - Perth Scorchers (The Gabba, 8.40am), January 14 - Adelaide Strikers (Adelaide Oval, 5am), January 16 - Melbourne Stars (MCG, 8.15am), January 20 - Hobart Hurricanes (The Gabba, 9am), January 22 - Melbourne Stars (The Gabba, 2.40am), January 25 - Hobart Hurricanes (UTAS, 2.40am)
Potential line up: Usman Khawaja (C), Marnus Labuschagne, Colin Munro, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Sam Billings, Mitchell Swepson, Max Bryant, Mark Steketee, Matthew Renshaw, Xavier Bartlett
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.