BBL: Jack Wildermuth backs Heat to fire against the Adelaide Strikers

Brisbane Heat will seek redemption for their poor start to the BBL season when they host the Adelaide Strikers.

Jack Wildermuth has been in form with the bat and the ball for Brisbane Heat. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Jack Wildermuth says some much-needed soul searching has the Brisbane Heat ready to make amends for their poor start to the BBL season when they host the Adelaide Strikers at the Gabba on Wednesday night.

The Heat have lost their opening two matches, producing a poor batting display against the Melbourne Stars on December 11, and a shoddy bowling effort against the Sydney Thunder, who successfully chased 178 last Monday night.

Brisbane’s bowling was so bad at the death that former Test captain Ricky Ponting described it as “pathetic”.

All-rounder Wildermuth, who was the Heat’s best performer against the Thunder with three wickets and a quickfire 31 off 11 balls, had no complaints with Ponting’s summation.

“Directly after the game we were disappointed as a whole group,” Wildermuth said.

“We take all responsibility in terms of planning, and obviously a few guys didn’t execute as well as they would have liked to finish off the game.

“We’ve come together, we’ve had a number of conversations about our plans, which we definitely got wrong.

“(Ponting) was right on there to be honest, and we’ve had some good conversations about it.

“A couple of moments of poor execution really cost us.

“We’re still feeling good going into next (Wednesday).”

Know anyone who LOVES Cricket more than @marnus3cricket?🏏💕🤣

FYI: Marnus said cricket 44 times in a 15 minute interview, which was supposed to be about 'life away from cricket'... #AUSvIND #BringtheHEAT pic.twitter.com/XmMuJFappy

— Brisbane Heat (@HeatBBL) December 17, 2020

Before then, Heat captain Chris Lynn, and fellow Brisbane players Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant and Matthew Kuhnemann will be involved in Sunday’s Queensland Premier Cricket T20 final at Allan Border Field.

Lynn will hope to continue his fine form for Toombul, while Gold Coast trio Bartlett, Bryant and Kuhnemann will be hoping their Heat skipper has an off day with the bat.

Lynn and Heat teammate Dan Lawrence, this week fined by Cricket Australia for breaching COVID-19 protocols in Canberra, are both now permitted to mix with their teammates after flying home to Brisbane separately on Tuesday.

Heat players will have the option of isolating at home or in a hotel from Monday until their game on Wednesday night.

Former South Africa speedster Morne Morkel isn’t expected to play for the Heat on Wednesday, but his Brisbane debut could come on Sunday week against the Hobart Hurricanes.

Originally published as BBL: Jack Wildermuth backs Heat to fire against the Adelaide Strikers