Test stars Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne will switch from the longest format to the briefest tomorrow when they suit-up for their first games of the KFC Big Bash League season.
TEST STARS RETURN | Batters Back For Key Game
Fresh from Australia’s 4-1 Ashes triumph in Sydney yesterday, the batting pair were named this afternoon in the Heat’s 14-player squad for tomorrow’s crunch match against the Sydney Thunder at the Gabba.
Pace bowler Michael Neser, who played three Tests in the series taking 15 wickets at 19.93, will miss the Thunder game as he takes a short break ahead of next week’s BBL games against the Hobart Hurricanes (Jan 14) and Sydney Sixers (Jan 18).
Khawaja will captain the side, which also features Pakistan paceman Zaman Khan, who will become the 99th capped player in the club’s history when he takes the field as the International Replacement Player for Shaheen Shah Afridi.
This BBL Technical Committee has approved multiple changes in the Heat squad, with Local Replacement Players Jack Wood and Liam Haskett out of the squad and Lachlan Hearne omitted.
All three were part of the Brisbane squad for their last game, the tense loss to the Sixers in Coffs Harbour.
Khawaja, Labuschagne and Khan are the approved squad inclusions.
Tomorrow’s game also doubles as the Road Safety Cup which is contested on an annual basis against the Sydney Thunder and is designed to raise awareness about road safety during peak holiday times.
The Road Safety Cup began in 2023 as a unique opportunity for both clubs to unite in their promotion of road safety.
Tomorrow’s sold-out Gabba match will also acknowledge the vital role that first responders play when it comes to road safety.
Heat wicket-keeper Jimmy Peirson and Sydney Thunder spinner Chris Green will each wear player shirt number ‘0’ tomorrow. This represents the shared vision of achieving zero road deaths.
Tomorrow’s game starts at 3pm Qld time and is a FOX and Kayo exclusive.
KFC Big Bash League
Brisbane Heat v Sydney Thunder
Tomorrow, 3pm (Qld time)
The Gabba
95. Tom Balkin (LRP)
19. Xavier Bartlett
17. Max Bryant
12. Zaman Khan (IRP)
1. Usman Khawaja
30. Matthew Kuhnemann
33. Marnus Labuschagne
38. Nathan McSweeney
82. Colin Munro (Int)
54. Oli Patterson
0. Jimmy Peirson
77. Matthew Renshaw
23. Hugh Weibgen
24. Jack Wildermuth
IN: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Zaman Khan.
OUT: Liam Haskett, Jack Wood, Lachlan Hearne (omitted)