The Brisbane Heat will welcome back a prodigal son for tomorrow night’s KFC Big Bash League season opener against the Melbourne Renegades at Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium.
Left-arm spinner Paddy Dooley has been included in the Heat’s initial squad of 13 as a Local Replacement Player for Matt Kuhnemann who was not considered as he completes his recovery from a side strain.
Dooley made his BBL debut for the Heat in 2020-21 when he was one of a host of replacement players called in to play in the Big Bash after the bulk of the Brisbane squad was sidelined due to COVID.
He played one game for the Heat that season, with the 28-year-old going on to play 19 BBL games for the Hobart Hurricanes, including being a part of their championship squad last summer.
He has taken 25 wickets so far in the BBL at an economy rate of 7.59 with an average of 20.60.
He is currently playing Premier Cricket in Melbourne after earlier playing for his former club Western Suburbs in the KFC T20 Max in the Brisbane pre-season.
The Heat has also added Western Australian left-arm quick Liam Haskett to their squad after the BBL Technical Committee approved the inclusion of he and Dooley ahead of the opening game for the Heat.
Haskett, 24, played two BBL games for the Adelaide Strikers as a Local Replacement Player last season after previously being on the books of the Perth Scorchers.
The 200cm paceman is one of five potential debutants for the Heat in their opening game alongside fellow left-arm quicks Shaheen Shah Afridi and Oli Patterson and batters Hugh Weibgen and Lachlan Hearne.
As well as Kuhnemann, the Heat medical staff are working with English import Tom Alsop after he reported knee soreness following the club’s internal practice game earlier this week.
Heat coach Johan Botha said the club anticipated both players would be available later in the tournament.
“We’re being a little cautious with Matty and Tom, so it is great to have an experienced player like Paddy to call into our group. He knows a lot of the boys and has played for the club previously,’’ he said.
“We’re pleased that Liam can join us. He’s had a taste of the BBL already and we think he has the skills and ability to play an important role.”
Australian trio Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Michael Neser will miss the game due to their Ashes Test preparations for the third Test in Adelaide next week.
Australia ‘A’ captain Nathan McSweeney will lead the Heat for the opening game.
McSweeney was skipper when Brisbane won the 2023-24 BBL Final against the Sydney Sixers and led South Australia to a Sheffield Shield and One Day trophy double last summer.
BBL international player draft number one pick Shaheen Shah Afridi will become the fourth player from Pakistan to play for the club, joining Shadab Khan, Yasir Shah and Fakhar Zaman.
The Heat will train later today at GMHBA Stadium ahead of tomorrow night’s clash with the Renegades, the fourth time the two teams have met at the venue with the home side winning two and the visitors one.
Tomorrow’s match will be broadcast and streamed live on Channel 7 and 7Plus, Foxtel and Kayo.
Player Summary
Frank Health Injury Update: Matt Kuhnemann (side strain), Tom Alsop (knee), Spencer Johnson(back injury) , Callum Vidler (back injury).
Australian Duties: Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne
In: Liam Haskett, Paddy Dooley (LRPs).
BBL|15 | Melbourne Renegades v Brisbane Heat, GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
Tomorrow, 6.15pm Qld time
Brisbane Heat Squad
10. Shaheen Shah Afridi (Int)
19. Xavier Bartlett
17. Max Bryant
98. Paddy Dooley (LRP)
99. Liam Haskett (LRP)
22. Lachlan Hearne
38. Nathan McSweeney (c)
82. Colin Munro (Int)
54. Oli Patterson
59. Jimmy Peirson
77. Matthew Renshaw
23. Hugh Weibgen
24. Jack Wildermuth
