Photo Credit: Brisbane Heat
Major League Cricket Squad Visits
The Brisbane Heat and Queensland Cricket have welcomed the Seattle Orcas to the southern hemisphere for the first time this week.
The Seattle Orcas, one of the six US-based clubs in the inaugural Major League Cricket [1] (MLC) competition last year, have sent their domestic squad to play and train in Brisbane as the club gears up for the second instalment of the MLC later in 2024.
Seattle Orcas finished as runners-up to MI New York in the inaugural MLC Final last year, with former Queensland paceman Cameron Gannon, who is US-qualified, finishing as player of the tournament.
Queensland Cricket will host the group, which will train and play at the National Cricket Centre and Allan Border Field while enjoying the opportunity to view firsthand the KFC Big Bash League Finals and the Second NRMA Test between Australia and the West Indies at the Gabba.
The Seattle Orcas will play three T20 matches against teams chosen from the KFC Queensland Premier Cricket competition, Brisbane Heat Academy and Queensland Bulls squads, with experienced Bulls and Heat coach Gavin Fitness overseeing the squads.
Queensland Cricket and Brisbane Heat CEO Terry Svenson said the arrival of the club from the Pacific Northwest in the United States provided greater opportunities for Queensland players to broaden their T20 experience and exposure.
“We’re delighted Seattle Orcas has chosen to come to Brisbane as part of their growth and development as a club, and we look forward to providing a rewarding experience for their players and staff,’’ he said.
“There’s also an opportunity for our local players to build their T20 skills and gain some valuable exposure.”
“Queensland Cricket and the Heat look forward to creating future opportunities with the Seattle Orcas and are excited at the potential of strengthening the ties between our organisations,” Svenson said.
“This is an excellent opportunity for our domestic players to train and play in a world-class environment,” said Sanjay Parthasarathy, co-owner of the Seattle Orcas.
“We are grateful to Queensland Cricket and the Brisbane Heat for creating this opportunity, and we know that the training camp and matches will provide a valuable opportunity as we prepare for the 2024 Major League Cricket season.”
The second season of Major League Cricket (MLC) will start on the 4th of July, four days after the Final of the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup that will be held in the USA and West Indies.
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.
