Photo Credit: Brisbane Heat
Queensland will welcome back a prodigal son this summer with English batsman Sam Hain joining the Brisbane Heat as an International Replacement player for the KFC Big Bash League.
Hain, who was raised on the Gold Coast and represented Queensland and Australian youth teams, has played for the past decade in England where he has been a mainstay of Warwickshire County Cricket.
The 27-year-old will train with the Heat from the start of the tournament and has been signed as a replacement for one of the club’s international signings in Sam Billings and Colin Munro who will play with the club until early January.
Hain, who has played for Manchester Originals and Welsh Fire in the first two years of The Hundred in England, was unveiled today as the Heat’s latest signing at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast, not far from where he grew up.
The right-hander attended The Southport School and represented the Queensland Under-17s in 2010-11 and the Queensland and Australian Under-19 teams in 2011-12 and the 2012 ICC Men’s Under-19 Youth World Cup hosted in Australia.
Among his past teammates from that time are current Queensland Bulls and Heat players Marnus Labuschagne, James Bazley, Jack Wildermuth, Mark Steketee, Mitch Swepson, and Jimmy Peirson.
Current Heat and Bulls coach Wade Seccombe coached Hain in the Queensland Under-19 side that claimed the national title in 2011-12.
Hain was born in Hong Kong before his English parents settled on the Gold Coast, which enabled him to pursue a playing career in the United Kingdom after he came to the attention of Warwickshire during a school exchange.
His decision to relocate to play in the UK as a teenager has subsequently seen him represent the English Lions and play 107 first class matches, 59 one-day games and 97 T20 matches in his career.
He has scored more than 6600 first class runs, including a career best season earlier this year when he scored 1073 county runs at 76.64, as well 2811 career T20 runs at a strike rate of 131.47.
Hain, who will play in an overseas T20 League for the first time, said he was delighted to return to Queensland.
“It’s been a few years since I have been back to Queensland, so I’ve enjoyed re-visiting a lot of the places I remember from growing up,’’ he said.
“It’s been great to catch up with so many of the guys I played with in the Queensland teams and the Gold Coast Dolphins since I have got out here.”
“I’m so excited to be able to play in the BBL. It’s been a big goal of mine for a few years now and it is a massive thrill be able to be a part of things with Brisbane this summer.”
Seccombe welcomed the return of the ‘home-town’ recruit.
“Sam was a very talented young player and I know a lot of us at QC were sorry to see him go when he made his call to pursue his options in England,’’ he said.
“It will be a great fit to have him back in the group. His playing experience is excellent, especially as a white ball player who knows how to control an innings and make good decisions in the middle.”
“He’ll have plenty of time to prepare for his playing stint in the back half of the tournament when Sam and Colin depart, and we’re really happy to have him working with the squad during the next month or so.”
Seccombe said there was also an option if Hain wished to gain additional playing time by linking with the Gold Coast in the KFC Queensland Premier Cricket competition.
Brisbane’s BBL preparations start in earnest next week once Queensland finishes its top-of-table Marsh Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia at the Gabba commencing this Thursday.
Name of Author: Brisbane Heat
The Brisbane Heat are an Australian professional cricket team competing in the Big Bash League (BBL), representing both men’s and women’s cricket. Based in Brisbane, Queensland, the Heat succeeded the Queensland Bulls, who played in the former KFC Twenty20 Big Bash. The team wears a teal uniform and plays at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, known as The Gabba.
