Photo Credit: Brisbane Heat
The Brisbane Heat will welcome back New Zealand star Colin Munro and English international Sam Billings for the KFC Big Bash League after taking the experienced duo at Platinum and Gold level in tonight’s International Player Draft.
Munro, 36, made an indelible impression for the Heat at the top of the order and as one of most experienced and effective T20 players in the world, was a priority pick for BBL|13.
Billings, 32, captained the Oval Invincibles to The Hundred title last month and will return to Brisbane for his second summer with a blossoming reputation as a leader.
The Heat were unable to secure batter Sam Hain, who was taken by Hobart in the second round, while Brisbane’s silver level pick went to Essex left-arm pace bowling allrounder Paul Walter who will make his first appearance in the BBL.
Munro said he was delighted to be returning to the Heat for his second season.
“It’s a great group of players and staff, and I’m looking forward to getting back with the boys,’’ he said.
“We’ve got family in Brisbane, so it works out really well for us at Christmas and the summer.”
The 203cm tall Walter, 29, is a left-arm pace bowler and a strong lower order hitter who has played in The Hundred for the Manchester Originals.
He has taken 62 career T20 wickets in his 112-game career to date and scored 1551 runs at a strike-rate of 143.87.
The Heat has two more local contract spots left to fill on its 18-player list.
The Heat have now signed the following players for BBL|13: Xavier Bartlett, Josh Brown, Max Bryant, Spencer Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan McSweeney, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Will Prestwidge, Matthew Renshaw, Mitch Swepson (two local spots to fill). Internationals draft picks: Sam Billings (Eng), Colin Munro (NZ), Paul Walter (Eng).
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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.
