How do we fire up the Heat?

EACH SATURDAY The Chronicle team talks about the big issues in sport locally, nationally and internationally. Glen, Jason and Sean share some of their views in the hope it will generate some discussion among The Chronicle’s readership.

Tell us what you think about today’s topic by emailing jason.gibbs@thechronicle.com .au or send an SMS to 0437 875 203.

Today The Chronicle sport team talks about how the Brisbane Heat can turn their season around.

SEAN TEUMA: If nothing else, the Heat have provided plenty of entertainment and got the hearts of fans racing on a regular basis throughout the BBL season so far.

Whether it be losing the unlosable or trying desperately to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, they keep us glued to the screen.

This may sound a bit simplistic, but I don’t think they have a plan B in case things go wrong.

Ideally you’d love them batting first at any opportunity they get, they are a completely different side when they are out there setting a total (let’s ignore the Adelaide debacle).

Mostly they seem to play with a calculated patience and poise when they feel the pressure is off.

They account for good balls and punish those that deserve to be sent over the rope.

I think their biggest hope of making the finals, and then hopefully doing some damage in the post-season, is to somehow rig the coin toss to ensure they are setting the pace.

But seriously, I’d toy with the idea of AB de Villiers opening the batting.

Let him get settled at the crease before exploding when he needs to.

Chris Lynn at first or second drop adds depth to the cause, and if he fires then things are looking up.

I’ve got faith they can turn it around. We’ve seen how good this team can be. It's just about putting it all together for a change.

GLEN McCULLOUGH:

My colleague Sean has been rather kind there in his constructive criticism of Brisbane Heat and his suggestions on what might help them resurrect their BBL finals’ campaign.

I don’t know if I can be quite as generous.

The Heat simply don’t deserve to play finals’ cricket, based on what they’ve dished up to unsuspecting fans, sponsors and television audiences so far this summer.

I’m sure rusted-on Heat followers have their own ideas on where things have gone so horribly wrong for their starstudded side and how some of those bloopers might be addressed.

Sean has touched on a few, and they must surely be worth a try after the team’s latest debacle against the Sixers.

But how about coach “Boof” Lehman chips in with a few ideas of his own?

I heard “Boof” say when quizzed in a radio interview about his team’s monumental collapse against the Renegades, that he wasn’t out there ... mmm.

Here are a couple of tips from the Don Bradman book on how to be a successful batsman, that might be of use.

Try hitting the ball along the ground, thus making it harder to be caught out by the opposition and maybe hitting the ball to where the fieldsmen aren’t will increase your chances of scoring runs.

It’s not rocket science. Look, the Heat’s 2019-20 season has been a train wreck.

But they are not alone when it comes to mediocrity and underachieving in this year’s competition.

The laughable thing is the Heat is still a possibility of making the “top five” and turning disaster into triumph by pulling out a couple of big games we know the players are capable of, and somehow winning the thing.

Funny game, cricket.