Heat set to fire up in Big Bash

The Brisbane Heat will be captained by Chris Lynn, who is reuniting with his "bash brother” Brendan McCullum.

Bowler Mitch Harsant throws himself into his work during the recent Northsiders v Brothers 1st division match at Ivor Marsden Sporting Complex. Picture: Rob Williams

WAYNE'S WICKET

THE eighth season of the Big Bash will start on Wednesday.

This season will have more fixtures and be as exciting as previous tournaments.

Foxtel will show every game but Channel 7 will only carry 36 of the 53 games.

The Brisbane Heat will be captained by Chris Lynn, who is reuniting with his "bash brother" Brendan McCullum.

The Heat's past poor bowling stocks have been boosted by former Test pacemen James Pattinson, who is returning after two injury ravaged seasons.

The Heat have signed teenager spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman from Afghanistan after a brilliant Indian Premier League, where he took 14 wickets. He will assist T20 specialist Ben Cutting, legspinner Mitch Swepson, Warwick's Mark Steketee and Toowoomba-bred cricketer Brendan Doggett in a well-rounded bowling attack.

Max Bryant will probably open with McCullum, with Lynn at No.3.

Former Australian ODI player Sean Hazlett and T20 specialist Alex Ross will battle it out for the no.4 spot ahead of in-form Joe Burns at no5.

Queensland's Shield captain and keeper Jimmy Pierson will probably bat lower this season.

Cutting could be the big-hitting floater batting at no 6 or promoted when needed.

The Heat will be in contention this season after a few ordinary campaigns.

Their batting has always been their strength and their bowling looks a lot better this season.

Adelaide Strikers are defending champions.

With their depth, I tip Perth Scorchers to win it.

The talking point is the introduction of the bat flip.

Lynn will be the first player to flip a bat at this elite level.

To me, this gimmick is okay for the Big Bash League because it doesn't matter who bats first in these matches as both teams bat on the concrete like pitches.

Interviewing the batsman as he walks to the middle however could affect a player's performance.

Not everyone will adjust and most of the time, the cricket savvy audience will know what will be required from the incoming player. That's why the broadcasters pay a "special comments" commentator on air to assess what is needed at that specific moment.

Wilson magic

PLAY, if possible today, will be the last weekend before the Christmas break.

Ipswich Logan Hornets will entertain the Gold Coast in T20 comps for their top two grades at Baxter Oval.

Locally, the 2nd and 3rd Grade competition complete their round fixtures.

The Hornets had a mixed bag in last week's T20s with big win over Lynn's Toombul, a loss to Valleys and tight loss to University.

Dan Wilson's scintillating 131 off a mere 58 balls was the highlight of a well-attended Toombul fixture.

Lynn managed 37 off 19 balls before paceman Sean Lutter ran him out with a direct hit after following through after a delivery.

On Sunday, Lynn smashed 113 off 45 balls against South Brisbane.

Wilson now has an opportunity to join Andrew Gode of Valleys as the only player to score hundreds in all three formats of the game in Queensland Premier Grade in a single season.

Allrounder Harry Wood continued his good form with an unbeaten 74 off 55 balls against third-placed University to give Hornets a good total of 7/146 to defend.

Uni reeled the total in with nine balls to spare.

Wood now sits fifth on the rungetters list, a tremendous achievement so far.

Gode meanwhile hit 86 off 31 while ex-Laidley Bluedog Lachlan Pfeffer hit 74 off 41 as Valleys posted a record 5/261 in the first game.

Levi Thomson Matthews (50 off 35) and Jack Wood (58no off 41) battled hard against such a massive total.

Today, the Hornets will have the task of keeping potential Brisbane Heat opener Max Bryant quiet.

A win will give the Hornets a good springboard for a shot T20 trophy after the break.

Valuable victory

THE Hornets third grade team made it two wins on the trot after a good win over Souths, captain Lee Watts leading the way again with 41 to go with his 76 last weekend.

The Hornets 4th grade got their first win of the season after Tim Weber's 101 set Souths 255.

After good bowling from captain Jack Hudson (1/37) and legspinner Karan Pal (2/38) in the middle overs, Souths needed four from the last ball but could only manage a two from paceman Connor Anderson who kept his cool in the last over.

Lachlan Prince (239 at 30), Bryn Llewellyn (107 runs at 21) and former Ipswich batsman Ben Maynard (127 at 16) will return to their clubs after a successful under 19 National titles.

Queensland finished second to ACT and the Country NSW team after they lost a rain-affected final.

Prince (82 off 73) and Maynard (41 off 36) had their best games in Queensland's big victory over South Australia in the semi-final.

Llewellyn's first game was his best with 38 against Victoria Country.

In Monday's night T20 at Limestone in Reserve Grade competition, Centrals (4/160) dominated Red Dogs (8/133) to secure their second win.

Rep honours

I WOULD like to wish well all the players travelling in representative teams over the Christmas and New Year break in the regional championships or their state in national championships.

All the best too to Ipswich umpire Darryl O'Sullivan when he travels to Sheppardton in Victoria for the National Country Championships.

O'Sullivan will join D. Ivor Watson, Syd Bowker, George Wilks, Bernie Clune, Greg Cubit, Mark Dalgleish, David Staines and Darryl Davis as Ipswich's Qld Country umpire representatives.

Key performers

NO first grade matches are scheduled for today.

Last weekend, Brothers' Mick Ridgewell (128) showed his class and maturity from Cam Wood (66) ensured Northsiders will have a lot of work to do in the new year.

Laidley's rampage (8/455) at Bruce Raleigh Oval, the eighth highest total ever in the Association history, gave the Bluedogs a well earned breathing space at the top of the ladder.

Last week's winners will play each other in their first fixture after the break, a tantalizing encounter.

There is one Baxter Big Bash T20 match with Centrals taking on Laidley at Marsden No.4 in a Pool A contest. The two heavyweights will be without their imports so will need to rely on their local A graders.

The Second Grade competition continues to throw up surprises. Leaders Fassifern amassed 317 with second-placed Laidley crumbling to 4/60 to stumps.

Marburg/Mt Crosby (9/124) can thank captain Josh Wendt (5/15 and 73no) for their victory over Brothers (91). If other games are washed out today, this win will be very handy for Thunder. However, they have the possibility of an outright if the teams can get on.

Northsiders (1/73) will keep pressure on the top three teams if they can defeat Centrals (168).

The 3rd Grade comp will have its last rounds before the competition is divided in two with the lower half being relegated and forming 4th Grade.

Redbacks Black (67), Laidley (66) and Centrals (52) are all safe while Thunder Ducks (36) are in seventh and will need to defeat Centrals to avoid relegation. They must hope Northsiders (44pts v Laidley), Redbacks Red (42pts v Fassifern) and Thunder Storm (42pts v Redbacks White) all lose.

All teams will keep their accumulated points in next year's fixtures.