BBL: Chris Lynn calls for team changes to save Brisbane Heat’s Big Bash season

Twenty20 star Chris Lynn was left embarrassed and frustrated by Brisbane’s latest loss - calling for immediate changes to the floundering side. But that’s unlikely to happen - and here’s why.

A dejected Chris Lynn leaves the field following his dismissal in the Heat’s heavy loss to Perth Scorchers. Picture: AAP

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The battling Brisbane Heat’s hopes of shaking up their floundering batting line-up have been crushed by Australia’s Test squad.

The Heat slumped to a shocking 40-run defeat to the struggling Perth Scorchers at Metricon Stadium on Wednesday night following a batting collapse captain Chris Lynn called “embarrassing”.

Lynn forecast changes would be made to the Heat’s line-up following a 1-3 start to the tournament, but there is unlikely to be many new faces in the team for Friday’s clash against the Hurricanes in Hobart.

That’s because the Heat don’t have any new batsmen to bring into the team.

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A dejected Chris Lynn leaves the field following his dismissal in the Heat’s heavy loss to Perth Scorchers. Picture: AAP

Contracted batsmen Marnus Labuschagne and Joe Burns are playing for Australia against New Zealand at the SCG from Friday along with quick James Pattinson and potentially spinner Mitch Swepson.

The only players the Heat have available to call up are fast bowlers Jack Prestwidge and Cameron Gannon along with spinner Matt Kuhnemann.

Marnus Labuschagne would be a welcome sight in Heat colours - but he’s on Australian duties right now. Picture: Getty

Opener Max Bryant could be moved down the order after averaging only six in the opening four games of the tournament, but the Heat will have to make do with the players they’ve got.

“It’s not time for panic but we do need to maybe change our preparation, change our batting line-up or maybe give the guys a rocket,” Lynn said.

“Do we give Max Bryant one more chance or slide him down and get a right-hand left-hand combination?

“It’s more the intent we’re going about it. We have to get that right.”

The Heat have insisted on playing “fearless” cricket over the past few years but it’s an approach that is clearly not working consistently enough to be a Big Bash title contender.

Max Bryant has struggled to repeat his impressive efforts of last summer. Picture: Getty

Brisbane coasted to a comfortable 48-run win against the Sixers pre-Christmas when Lynn blasted 94 from 35 balls, but that was the only match the Heat have been in contention to win.

With South African superstar AB de Villiers not available for the next four matches, the Heat must start racking up wins to remain in the finals hunt.

Fast bowler Ben Laughlin, who became the first bowler to claim 100 BBL wickets on New Year’s Day, said the Heat had to play smarter after being bowled out for 109.

“It’s a bit of the story of our season so far so we’ll have to look at that and try to sort it out,” Laughlin said.

“Absolutely we talk about it. It’s about getting it right.

An embarrassed Lynn apologised to Heat fans after the Scorchers defeat. Picture: Getty

“We’ve got some pretty inexperienced players in our team who are learning how to play. They’ll be better for that, learn and we’ll keep improving.

“I’m not in the batting side – I look after the bowlers. I don’t want to say too much about it, they’ll work it out and get a plan together.

“Lynny likes playing high-risk cricket and that’s what the Heat have been known for.

“If they start telling me how to bowl I get a bit frustrated so I don’t say how to bat because I can’t bat.”

Perhaps most embarrassingly for the Heat, No. 11 Zahir Khan top scored with 19 not out against the Scorchers after Tom Banton (7), Bryant (6), Matt Renshaw (1), Sam Heazlett (12), Jimmy Peirson (6), Ben Cutting (1) and Lynn (14) failed within 11 overs.

The Heat have shown a preference to bat second, but they have lost all three games this summer when doing so and Laughlin admitted it was tough to chase decent totals.

Originally published as BBL: Chris Lynn calls for team changes to save Brisbane Heat’s Big Bash season