Vettori rules out axing Baz
Brisbane Heat coach, Daniel Vettori admits change to his winless side’s top six may be coming, but has ruled out tapping his former New Zealand teammate Brendon McCullum on the shoulder.
In three T20 innings for Brisbane McCullum – once one of the most dazzling batsmen in the world – has scored 4, 4 and 8 at an average of 5.33.
‘‘Yeh definitely,’’ Vettori said when asked if McCullum would remain a certain starter.
On Tuesday McCullum – one half of Brisbane’s ‘Bash Brothers’ – slid from the top of the order to No 4 against the Sydney Sixers.
He hung around for 8 off 13 balls – with no boundaries – before lofting a catch to backward point off right arm quick Sean Abbott.
The Sixers chased down 165 to consign the Heat to a 0-3 tournament start.
The Heat have lost their last seven matches, with former Kiwi captain Vettori admitting they weren’t producing enough in the middle order.
That is despite captain Chris Lynn’s (84 from 55) mature New Year’s Day innings and rookie Max Bryant’s big hitting at the top of the order.
But 37-year-old McCullum, who played in the Heat’s first game in December 2011 and has earned a reputation as one of the world’s most destructive T20 batsmen, won’t be a casualty.
Marnus Labuschagne has moved from the Heat bench to a possible test return in Sydney, but fellow test hopeful Matt Renshaw and proven short-form batsman Alex Ross are both options up Vettori’s sleeve.
‘‘It’s tricky because there are three very good batsmen on the sideline but there’s seven very good batsmen in the team as well,’’ Vettori said.
‘‘They all have done well for Brisbane in the past; we’ll sit on it for a day and rebuild for Perth (on Saturday).’’
Questions have also been raised about the Heat’s bowling attack after they were unable to defend 164 at Metricon Stadium.
‘‘It’s wide ranging,’’ Vettori said of his side’s slump.
‘‘We’ve done things well in all departments and poorly in all departments.
‘‘It’s that ability to look at each mistake in the game, each situation we’re not quite winning ... those are things that win games of cricket and what we’re not doing.’’