Brisbane Heat backing themselves to win in Perth for the first time since 2019
Belief is high in the Brisbane Heat camp ahead of the team’s BBL Boxing Day battle against the Perth Scorchers.
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A buoyant Brisbane Heat are confident of ending a run of five successive losses in Perth when they meet the Scorchers on Boxing Day.
The Heat haven’t won in the West Australian capital since beating the Scorchers by five wickets at Optus Stadum in January 2019,
“It’s somewhere where we’ve probably struggled in the past, but confidence is high,” Heat star Mitch Swepson said after hitting the winning run in Brisbane’s thrilling three-wicket win over the Adelaide Strikers at the Gabba on Sunday night.
It was the Heat’s second successive victory in a so far impressive start to their BBL title defence.
“We’re as confident as a squad as we’ve ever been. so to go over there (to Perth) and tick off that one would be a really big milestone for this group,” leg-spinner Swepson said.
“(The Scorchers) are always tough, and in Perth it’s a very steep mountain to climb, somewhere where it’s hard to go and win. We know that but we’re up for it. We’re really excited to get over there.”
Star left-arm paceman Spencer Johnson, who is yet to play this season, is a chance to return for the Boxing Day battle from a toe injury, but fellow quick Michael Neser will remain sidelined with a hamstring problem.
English batsman Tom Banton, who has joined the Heat as a injury-replacement player for countryman Tom Alsop, is expected to play in Perth.
The Heat side will also again include Test discard Nathan McSweeney, who was superb in his return to the BBL on Sunday night with an unbeaten knock of 78 off 49 balls to guide Brisbane to victory.
“He played an absolutely match-winning, brilliant innings, (and) after the tough week he’s had, credit to him,” Swepson said.
“He’s just a brilliant cricketer, and he sums up the situation really well, and that’s exactly what he did (against the Strikers).
“He came in, he took his time, he got the read of the wicket ... and then when the time came to put the foot down he did it, and he was there at the end and got us home.”
Originally published as Brisbane Heat backing themselves to win in Perth for the first time since 2019
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