It is the start of a new chapter for the Brisbane Heat with Chris Lynn no longer wearing the teal after 11 seasons.
Attention turns to a new campaign, one the team hopes to have success in having failed to qualify for finals in four of the last five seasons.
BBL11 proved to be especially tough with COVID badly striking the team finishing seventh with only three wins from fourteen matches. However a fresh slate begins and the Heat have terrific depth.
The additions of Usman Khawaja, Colin Munro, and Sam Billings is sure to boost its batting stocks, whilst their bowling is solid consisting of Michael Neser, Mark Steketee, and leg-spinner Mitch Swepson.
Although success has been elusive, expect the Heat to win more than three games and be right in contention throughout the tournament.
Key players
In the quest to add extra batting power, the Heat made a splash by signing New Zealand batsman Colin Munro. The 35-year-old is coming of an impressive BBL11 scoring 390 runs at a strike rate of 127.45.
His tremendous ability to score once he is in was on show. In his second game for the Scorchers, Munro smashed his way to a career BBL best 114 not out including six sixes against the Adelaide Strikers. An innings Heat fans are going to be eager to witness this season.
Although he has opened for the majority of his white-ball career, Munro's flexibility to bat at number three or four is a luxury the Heat have in their arsenal, depending on the game situation. You can almost sense the anticipation of the team chooses to pair him at the top of the order alongside Chris Lynn.
Fireworks are sure to go off, giving the team plenty to cheer for. On an all too regular basis, the Heat were the culprits of slow starts, forcing them to play catchup. But, this shouldn't be the case with Munro onboard, alongside Sam Billings and Usman Khawaja to lay the platform.
Sam Billings
In order to further bolster its batting depth, the Heat secured the services of hard-hitting Englishman Sam Billings. He is coming off a consistent BBL11 campaign scoring 284 runs at an phenomenal strike rate of 153.51.
Although at times, he had a few down knocks, three of his innings were integral in the Thunder's victories. These include 43 against the Melbourne Stars after the side was in trouble, a destructive 64 of only 27 balls against the team he now plays for: the Brisbane Heat, and 67 against the Perth Scorchers.
His ability to strike hard everywhere is going to help complement its batting alongside Colin Munro, Sam Heazlett, Jimmy Peirson and new import Ross Whiteley. What the Heat also have at their disposal is by either inserting Billimgs at the top or in the middle order.
A decision coach Wade Seccombe is going to have plenty of thinking as to what is best for the team.
Mitchell Swepson
One of the Heat's longest tenured players Mitch Swepson is going to have the task of shutting down one end of the field. The veteran leg-spinner didn't feature much in BBL11 playing only five games.
Despite this, his exceution with he ball has seen him take 53 wickets from 52 matches at an economy rate of 7.54. With the Heat bowling attack compact, Swepson's importance in tying down the opposition is to be major factor, particularly with Mujeeb Ur Rahman's departure to the Melbourne Renegades in August's inaugural BBL draft.
If Swepson bowls well, the Heat are going to be every chance of turning defeats into victories.
Player to watch
Will Prestwidge
While having plenty of bowling experience in its ranks, there is a young and upcoming quick who can be a fixture in the Heat team. Will Prestwidge, is a 20-year-old right-arm quick who can give the team a different dimension, particularly on a Gabba surface which generally has favourable bounce for fast bowlers.
He came into the team last season taking 4 wickets from 3 matches, featuring in a match where the squad was forced to make 10 changes all because of COVID. Prestwidge is going to be an x-factor as the Heat already have Michael Neser and Mark Steketee who are steady without being express.
That's where Prestwidge fits the mould.
Speaking to cricket.com.au on September 29, Heat Coach Wade Seccombe said Prestwidge is the quickest bowler opposition batsmen had to contend with. It's pretty frightening for the seven other teams who are yet to face the 20-year-old.
Heat matches to watch
Friday, December 23 v Adelaide Strikers, Gabba
Sunday, January 1 v Sydney Sixers, Gabba
Wednesday, January 4 v Sydney Sixers, North Sydney Oval
Saturday, January 7 v Perth Scorchers, Optus Stadium
Wednesday, January 25 v Hobart Hurricanes, University of Tasmania Stadium
