Marnus may burn Joe

Labuschagne set to replace struggler

CRICKET: The meteoric rise of Marnus Labuschagne could cost Test teammate Joe Burns his spot at the Brisbane Heat.

Labuschagne will make his first Big Bash League appearance of the summer in tonight’s blockbuster clash against Steve Smith’s Sydney Sixers at the Gabba.

Labuschagne has been Australia’s success story of the summer, whacking 896 runs in five Tests against Pakistan and New Zealand before earning a one-day international call-up.

Despite returning from India on Tuesday morning, Labuschagne will be rushed into the battling Heat’s line-up.

The Heat are desperate to bounce back after suffering a humiliating 44-run loss – including a BBL record collapse of 10-36 – to the last-placed Renegades on Sunday night.

Heat coach Darren Lehmann said Labuschagne would bat in the middle order, leaving

Burns as the most likely player to drop out of the 11.

All-rounder Ben Cutting is also a potential omission, but his bowling and big-hitting gives him an edge.

After an up-and-down Test summer, Burns has averaged 16 in five BBL matches and is a chance to be dropped.

“Joe will be in consideration ... Joe could have opened the batting the other night but we went with Sam (Heazlett) and he did a good job (scoring 56 from 37 balls),” Lehmann said.

“We’ll have to sum up what the best make-up is for this game.

“Marnus will definitely play. “I see him in the middle order, so we’ll have to work out who misses out. Someone is going to be unlucky.”

The Heat were criticised heavily following the debacle against the Renegades, with captain Chris Lynn labelling the performance “p--- poor”.

Batting collapses have been the story of the Heat’s summer – and previous tournaments.

“We’ve been up and down for a long period of time,” Lehmann said.

“It’s about us getting better in the pressure situations and making sure guys who are in stay in for longer and put the pressure back on the bowlers.”

The Heat sit sixth on the BBL ladder with three games to play before the finals, which will be contested by the top five teams.