Photo Credit: Brisbane Heat
The Brisbane Heat have locked in another key member of their KFC Big Bash League championship squad with New Zealand’s Colin Munro signing a multi-year deal with the club.
Munro has accepted a two-year contract, with the Heat announcing today that the top order batter was tied to the club until 2026.
The left-hander has been with the club for the past two seasons but was unavailable for the entire BBL competition for each of those seasons due to competing player commitments.
His signing means he will be available for all matches, including Finals, in BBL|14 and BBL|15.
Brisbane Heat CEO Terry Svenson welcomed the recruitment of the vastly experienced Munro, who has played more than 428 career T20 matches, including 47 BBL games for Sydney Sixers, Perth Scorchers and the Heat.
“Col has been great for the playing group in the two seasons he has been with us, and we are eager to work with him again across the entire BBL this summer and next,’’ he said.
“He and his family have enjoyed their summers with us, and we look forward to having them in Brisbane over the summer holiday period which is peak Big Bash time.
“He is a committed team man who puts the side first, as well as being a generous teammate and natural leader. Being able to call upon him as captain was something we valued last season and it is very encouraging to know he can provide his experience to us again for the next few years,’’ Svenson said.
Munro becomes the BBL’s fourth International pre-signing under new Big Bash rules which allow one international to be signed on multi-year deals by each club ahead of the Overseas Player Draft, with former Heat player Sam Billings (Thunder) and fellow English players Sam Curran (Stars) and Chris Jordan (Hurricanes) also announced recently.
The introduction of the multi-year provision this year enables each club to sign one overseas player each season for up to three years outside of the BBL Draft.
All remaining overseas players must be secured by clubs via either the Draft, or alternatively may be signed as a Replacement Player in place of a full-time squad member.
Munro hit 278 runs in BBL|12 including a top score of 98, and 224 runs last summer with his highest score 99 not out.
The New Zealand representative played Test, ODI and T20 Internationals between 2012 and 2020 for the Black Caps in his international career, which he officially called time upon prior to the recent ICC T20 World Cup.
Overall, he has played 428 T20 matches, including stints in the Indian Premier League, The Hundred, Caribbean Premier League, Pakistan Super League, Vitality T20 Blast and ILT20.
He has scored 10,961 runs at a career strike rate of 141.25, with five centuries and 67 half centuries.
Munro said he was looking forward to resuming his BBL career with his premiership-winning teammates.
“It was pretty poignant being away and watching the boys go one better to win the title, after going through the disappointment of the previous season when we got beaten at the death in the Final,’’ he said.
“My family and I celebrated the title though and it felt very special seeing everyone enjoy themselves after the Final.”
“It’s a strong squad again and I’m looking forward to being part of what we can build together. There are always opportunities to get better and as a group, we should be excited about the new goals we will pursue this summer.
“Playing at a packed Gabba again, especially in front of family and friends, is such a highlight and the way the fans have embraced the team in the past few seasons has been brilliant to experience,’’ Munro said.
Brisbane Heat BBL|14 Squad (to date): Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Matt Kuhnemann, Nathan McSweeney, Colin Munro (Int), Michael Neser, James Pierson, Will Prestwidge, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson.
