Brisbane Heat hero Spencer Johnson digging BBL boon after two finals in two years

Spencer Johnson has doubled down on his love affair with the Brisbane Heat, admitting he could still be toiling away as a landscape gardener without his teal tenure.

Spencer Johnson has doubled down on his love affair with the Brisbane Heat, admitting he could still be toiling away as a landscape gardener without his teal tenure.

Johnson claimed man-of-the-match figures of 4/27 in his destruction of the Sydney Sixers in Wednesday’s final as the Heat cruised to a 54-run win.

Since joining the Heat in 2022 he’s made consecutive BBL finals, played for Australia and secured a $1.78 million deal to play in the lucrative Indian Premier League.

It was only two years ago that he was in the cricketing wilderness without a professional contract working as a landscaper to pay the bills.

“When you get to 27 and you haven’t played a professional game for two or three years, I think it’s only natural to think that,” Johnson said when asked if his dreams had begun to fade away.

“Without the opportunity that the Heat gave me, I wouldn’t have had those opportunities elsewhere.”

Brisbane Heat’s Michael Neser, Spencer Johnson and Josh Brown with the BBL trophy at Brisbane Airport. Picture: Nigel Hallett

While Johnson will be in teal colours until the end of BBL15, the strapping quick stopped short when asked about any hopes of securing a more permanent home in the Sunshine State.

Johnson is locked in with his home state of South Australia for longer-form matches.

“Queensland Cricket have been great to me but South Australia have been equally as good,” he said.

“(They’ve been) Very supportive and were there for the tough times. Hopefully I can go back to them and perform in Shield cricket.”

For fellow late bloomer Josh Brown, life has begun at 30.

Fresh off his blistering 140 from 57 that put the Heat into the final, Brown backed it up with a crucial half century on a tricky wicket to set the game up for the Heat.

Brown will depart for his first international T20 contract in the Bangladesh Premier League in a matter of days and will eye off a slot in the Queensland Bulls set-up when he returns.

Brisbane Heat’s Josh Brown with his mum Kris and dad Shane at Brisbane Airport. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The boundary-eater said it all would have been impossible without his mum Kris, who he lived with only last year.

“She helped me through a lot of stuff. I don’t know how many people would have gone through the same sort of stuff,” Brown said.

“She’s been my rock. She’s even take me to cricket training when I didn’t have a car, dropped me off at the Gabba for my second game. I definitely owe a lot to her.

“It’s been a crazy week so far but it’s only just beginning. If I can get a gig over in India that would be unreal.”

Johnson said it was about self belief and never truly giving up on a dream.

“For Brownie it’s life-changing as well,” Johnson said.

“We have only just seen what he can do on the professional stage.

“I guess you just have to keep the faith.”

English import and Heat cult hero Paul “Tall” Walter said he would love a reunion with Brisbane next summer.

“Hopefully they want me back and they can get me in the draft again. I would love to come back,” Walter said.

The Heat will be given the keys to the city at a special presentation in the Queen Street Mall on Friday, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner confirmed.

It shapes as a chance for fans to get up close and mingle with the champions and celebrate the club’s second BBL title.