Turning up the Heat
Brisbane wants Renshaw released for BBL semi-final
Brisbane Heat have lobbied Cricket Australia to get star batter Matt Renshaw released from the Test squad to play in Friday night’s BBL semi-final on the Gold Coast with a home final on the line.
The Heat will host the winner of Tuesday night’s clash between the Perth Scorchers and the Sydney Sixers, with the victor of the “Qualifier” at Heritage Bank Stadium to advance straight to Wednesday week’s final.
Renshaw played for the Heat in the team’s 35-run weekend loss to the Scorchers in Perth before heading to Adelaide to link with Australia’s 13-man squad ahead of the Test against the West Indies starting on Wednesday in Adelaide.
Renshaw missed selection in the final XI for the match, raising Heat hopes that Cricket Australia will allow him to play for Brisbane on Friday night.
But his presence as a potential concussion sub, having been picked for his flexibility in the batting order, could prove a hurdle.
“We’re talking closely with Cricket Australia because that’s very dear for us to get him back for this game,” Heat coach Wade Seccombe said.
“There’s good conversations going on. It’s in their (CA’s) hands what they do and probably (depend) on how the Test match is looking at that point in time, (but) we’re very hopeful of having Matthew back.”
The Heat have also lost overseas pair Sam Billings and Colin Munro, who have headed to the UAE for the International League T20 competition, plus Test stars Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne, and possibly Renshaw as the season reaches its climax
Seccombe was confident his squad, which only lost one of 10 games in the regular season, could overcome the talent drain. “We’ve had good depth sitting on the bench … so we
FRIDAY 6.40P we’re always preparing for this moment knowing full well that Billings and Munro weren’t going to be here, (and) Marnus and Usman weren’t going to be here,” he said.
“That’s been very much the language used in conversations with those guys coming through.
“I’m not seeing it as a daunting task. I’m really quite comfortable with the team, we’re going to be putting on the paddock, so I’ve just got to instil the confidence in those players coming in, and they’re the same.”
The Heat have added Tasmania-based batsman Charlie Wakim to their squad as cover for Renshaw.
Seccombe said Heat would not use their change of home ground as an excuse should they lose on Friday night.
The match can’t be played at the Gabba because the pitch squad is being prepared for next week’s second Test between Australia and the West Indies.
“From a preparation point of view, we’re making sure we’re getting our sessions in down the Coast,” Seccombe said.
“We don’t know what the wicket is going to look like because it just hasn’t been played on, so we’ve just got to be adaptable on the day. The weather, we can’t factor that in, we’re just ready to go.”
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