Last season's cruel defeat in the final to Perth Scorchers may still linger, but if Heat can discover the same unity and spirit from 2022/23 then another appearance in the playoffs is not beyond them
Despite going within touching distance of a second title, a decade on from their only success in 2012/13, Jimmy Pierson, the stand-in captain, and Brisbane Heat can still look back on last season as a remarkable success.
Because when you come so close; surge from the back of the pack, go within a handful of deliveries and a successful catch (a penny for the thoughts of Josh Brown) of glory, sometimes what has gone before gets lost.
"My vision for this team is making the most of our parts," was Peirson's message after last year's final and in charging to the trophy match having finished fifth in the regular season, they certainly did that.
Availability of star names means a repeat might be beyond them, but plenty without skin the game will be willing them on again.
Coach: Wade Seccombe
A second campaign at the helm looked to be heading a similar way to BBL11 until a hot streak saw Heat reach the final. Has a formidable backroom team at his beck and call, with former coach Darren Lehmann as his assistant since taking a step back. Previously tipped as an Australia men's head coach of the future, he played 205 senior matches for Queensland with whom he has won the Sheffield Shield as a player and coach.
Captain: Usman Khawaja
The Australia Test opener returns to captain for a second campaign but it remains to be seen how much access Heat have to his services across the campaign. Played eight times in 2022/23 and though he didn't blow teams away (249 runs at 31.12) it was his leadership, that turning around a grim start to go deep, which was most significant. Confirmed for the opening game alongside Marnus Labuchagen, Heat to take advantage when they have a full allocation.
How strong is the batting?
While Heat weren't blessed with heavyweight run-scorers in 2022/23 (they had none of the top 11 despite playing 18 matches) they hit their straps at the right moments.
They hit 94 sixes across the competition, 10 more than the next-best side, and at the death they scored at 9.83 runs per over (third best).
Five players passed 200 runs for the campaign; Colin Munro, Khawaja, Matt Renshaw, Jimmy Peirson and Josh Brown, who has been rewarded with a full contract. And when you consider that each (bar Peirson) did so while striking at 135 or better, a picture of why Heat were so formidable at the sharp end starts to build.
Claiming six of their nine wins batting first - as was often their preference - Heat never laid an egg when having first use, only once being bowled out inside 20 overs and never setting fewer than 155. In short, they ensured they were in every game and brought their stellar bowling attack into play.
There will be regret over the inability to bring back Sam Hain but Sam Billings, who captained Oval Invincibles to the men's Hundred last summer and won the T20 Blast with Kent, is more than capable of stepping up. Fellow overseas recruit Munro, a CPL, APL, men's Hundred and BBL 11 winner with Perth Scorchers, barely needs any introduction and recently became the 10th man to pass 10,000 T20 runs
Brisbane Heat captain Usman Khawaja (Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)
How strong is the bowling?
Michael Neser is the leader of the attack and was the second-highest wicket-taker in BBL 12, taking 26. The Australian needs one more for 100 in the Big Bash.
Spencer Johnson has enjoyed a fine last 12 months; he took nine wickets during last season's BBL, impressed on foreign lands during The Hundred - claiming 3 for 1 against Manchester Originals - and is braced to be part of Australia's T20 World Cup after making his international debut in South Africa.
More practically, he offers a left-arm seam option alongside Jack Prestwidge and Paul Walter, who will bowl into the pitch with good accuracy and challenge opponents' technique.
Losing James Bazley (16 wickets at 23.37 in 2022/23) to Adelaide Strikers is a blow while Mark Steketee has moved to Melbourne Stars after only playing eight times last term.
Spinners Matt Kuhnemann and Mitchell Swepson combined for 21 wickets last term but the latter, whose scalps came at 67.80 and an economy rate above seven, points to a wider problem.
Heat were too easy to score against at stages last term; no side conceded a higher run rate in the powerplay and only Strikers were punished more at the death. Ultimately, that profligacy came back to hurt them in the final as Cooper Connolly and Nick Hobson cashed in, scoring 38 in 15 balls to win with three to spare.
Why should the fans be excited?
The core of the group which drove Heat to their first final in 10 years, recovering from a dodgy group stage, remains in place. Hain, Bazley and Steketee have departed but they are losses Seccombe will feel comfortable managing. Having tied Johnson to a new two-year deal, there is genuine excitement over his ceiling after he spent 2023 regularly hitting 90mph. Surrounded by an experienced attack, that is likely to be the strong suit again, which generally bodes well.
Spencer Johnson will be eager to kick on (Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images)
Why fans should be worried?
There is something of an availability crisis from the outset. They start the season without Neser, Nathan McSweeney, Renshaw and Peirson who are with the Prime Minister's XI facing Pakistan across the opening two games. That is mitigated by the availability of Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne, but their outings may well be short-lived. Indeed, they may not be the last to be recruited across the season.
Munro and Billings are bound for the ILT20 in January and are only available for the first nine group games. Overseas replacements are being targeted but fans should scale back their expectations.
While a mercilessly shorter competition is welcomed by many, Heat could be among the losers. They are historically slow starters, losing four of the first five in 2020/21 and 2022/23, and three of the first four in 2021/22; four fewer group matches don't allow for a late run.
Squad: Usman Khawaja, Xavier Bartlett, Josh Brown, Max Bryant, Spencer Johnson, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Will Prestwidge, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson, Colin Munro, Sam Billings, Paul Walter, Jack Wildermuth
Fixtures: December 7 – Melbourne Stars (h, 8:15am GMT), December 9 – Adelaide Strikers (a, 8.15am), December 12 – Sydney Thunder (a, 8.15am), December 21 - Melbourne Renegades (a, 8.15am), December 27 - Sydney Thunder (h, 8.15am), January 1 - Sydney Sixers (h, 8.15am), January 3 - Sydney Sixers (a, 7.05am), January 7 - Hobart Hurricanes (h, 8.15am), January 10 - Perth Scorchers (a, 8.40am), January 13 - Perth Scorchers (a, 5.15am)
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