BIG BASH CRICKET

Heat’s on in clash of the battlers

THE Brisbane Heat will have an urgent review of their suddenly misfiring batting order before finalising their side for tonight’s Big Bash game against the desperate Stars in Melbourne.

Australian 50-over batsman Sam Heazlett returns to the squad for Jason Floros and the Heat brains trust must be tempted to include him in the starting side at the MCG.

The Heat have several players under pressure, including opener and wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson who has scored 1, 12, 43 and 7 in his four outings at the top of the order this campaign.

Peirson has just two 50s in his 30 T20 innings, and the Heat may contemplate sending him down the order and promoting someone more in form such as Joe Burns as they sift through the debris of their second-lowest Big Bash total (91) ever in their loss to the Adelaide Strikers on New Year’s Eve.

International fast bowler Ben Cutting is also subtly changing roles in the team.

He has bowled only two overs in four games — going for 22 in one and 12 in the other — and has not bowled in the Heat’s past two games.

He has become a middle order power player but, if he is not bowling, needs to justify his presence with some late-innings hitting.

The Heat pipped the Stars in their first clash this season in a high-scoring game at the Gabba. But the underachieving Melbourne team, winless after two games, will be desperate tonight in their first home game of the season.

MELBOURNE STARS V BRISBANE HEAT MELBOURNE, TONIGHT, 7.10PM