Jimmy Peirson opens up about answering the Brisbane Heat captaincy call

Jimmy Peirson has opened up about the simple thing that helped him realise he was ready to take over the Brisbane Heat captaincy from Chris Lynn

Being handed captaincy of the Brisbane Heat couldn’t have come at a better time for Jimmy Peirson.

Taking over from Chris Lynn, the star batsman and wicket keeper was named captain in September less than a week after welcoming his second child, a son named William.

“It’s been so fantastic welcoming a healthy baby into our lives and then also being asked to captain the side which is something I never really expected to do and it’s a great privilege,” Peirson, 29, said.

He and wife Amy Peirson, who met while they were both studying at QUT, married in 2018, bought a home in Everton Park the following year and welcomed a daughter, Evie, in May 2020.

Brisbane Heat's new captain Jimmy Peirson alongside wife Amy and children Evelyn, 15 months and baby William. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Despite not considering captaincy earlier in his career, Peirson said becoming a father had helped his cricket.

“I’m just so settled at home and happy,” Peirson said.

“Particularly in the last year or so since having kids it makes everything seem not as serious because the most important thing in your life is actually at home.

“It’s helped me deal with the adversities of the game and has also given me great perspective and clarity about what I want to do – when I’m away, I want to give it my best crack because if I’m going to be away from my kids and my wife I want to make sure it’s worth it.”

Peirson stepped in for Lynn as captain last year and was approached to lead the side full time for the upcoming Big Bash season after the batsman stood down from the role.

“I’m still learning, I don’t know it all and I’m going to need people around me to support me as I go,” he said.

TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 01: Jimmy Peirson of Queensland keeps wicket during the Marsh One Day Cup match between Queensland and Tasmania at Riverway Stadium on November 01, 2021, in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

“Lynny will be a huge support and someone who I will always lean on for advice. He’s certainly a leader among our group, but it’s important that Lynny gets back out and enjoys his cricket because that’s what he wants to do and we can definitely facilitate that. I’m most looking forward to seeing him do his thing this summer, hitting sixes and playing his best cricket.”

Amy, who works as a registered nurse, said she was supportive of her husband taking on the lead role.

“I think it came as a surprise at the start when he was asked to take it on and had a think about it and decided why not,” she said.

She said she had been slowly learning about the game from Peirson, who initially stopped in at the Subway store she worked at “very regularly” before they started dating at university.

“I’d give him a few freebies here and there,” she laughed.

Peirson added: “She’s certainly learnt a lot about the game, but it’s nice coming home and not being told how to bat.”

The Brisbane Heat will open the BBL season against Sydney Thunder on December 6.