Heat retain strike weapon

An exciting week just got even better for pace bowler Cameron Gannon, with the Brisbane Heat today announcing it had re-signed the KFC T20 Big Bash League’s leading wicket-taker from last summer.

The 199cm Gannon finished with 18 wickets at 11.94 last season to be the number one bowler in the competition, claiming four more scalps than his nearest rival.

Gannon successfully took on the ‘closer’ role for the Heat, twice finishing with four-wicket hauls with his efforts at the death including bests of 4-11 against the Thunder, 4-24 against the Sixers and 3-11 against the Strikers.

“There was an opportunity there and I was keen to take it,’’ he said. “It was a great experience and I think the club has got together a strong line-up again for this season.”

Heat coach Stuart Law said Gannon had responded superbly to the challenges offered throughout BBL|03.

“‘Ganno’ wanted to prove a few things to us and to him and he applied himself admirably,” Law said. “The results he enjoyed were a fitting reward for his hard work and self-belief.”

The deal completes a memorable seven days for the 25-year-old quick.

Playing at Brookwater Golf Club as part of a charity day to raise funds for Multiple Sclerosis, Gannon and playing partner Cameron Boyce had a surprising encounter with a large black snake which had opted against hibernation to enjoy Brisbane’s balmy autumn conditions.

“I was just off the fairway looking for my ball and virtually stepped on it,’’ Gannon revealed. “It struck at me twice and Boycey reckoned he had never seen me move so fast. It certainly made my putt interesting for me when we got to the green.

“I figured it was my lucky day anyway so I bought a raffle ticket later on. I ended up winning a trip to China to play five days at the world’s biggest club at Mission Hills, which has got like 12 courses to play, so it turned out pretty well.”

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Gannon is the latest addition to the Heat contract list, joining batsman Nathan Reardon, fellow quicks Nick Buchanan and Mark Steketee, and wicketkeeper James Peirson on the books.

After winning BBL|02, Brisbane disappointed by just failing to make the four last summer, but the club did enjoy a League high crowd average of 23,000, including a domestic record T20 crowd of 32,696 at the Gabba against Melbourne Stars.

The official BBL recruiting period is underway now, with teams needing to sign a minimum of 10 players by 11 July and the remaining eight by Friday 5 December which is the last day of the official contracting window.

There will be a second trade week starting on Monday November 17 – a month out from BBL|04.

Each club must have a minimum squad of 18 players, including a minimum of two and a maximum of four international players.