Heat on Brisbane batters to produce in Gabba return

Brisbane's best with the bat so far in BBL|11, Sam Heazlett says the side's top order needs to step up if the Heat are to mark their mark this summer.

Heazlett, averaging 60 through three games with a high score of 44 not out, has been the only consistent performer in a so far underwhelming Brisbane batting line-up.

The Heat lost their opening two matches to the Sydney Thunder and Perth Scorchers, before successfully chasing down a low total against the Melbourne Renegades,

Ahead of their first game of BBL|11 at the Gabba, Heazlett says the side's batters need to match the effort of their bowlers.

"The bowlers have a done a really good job all three games," the 26-year-old said.

"Batting wise we still probably haven't put a polished performance in.

"We need a guy in the top four to be getting 60, 70, 80 plus so we've got somewhere to launch from in the back end, and we haven't had that yet.

"We need someone to be there for a large portion of the innings and be there at the (Power) Surge to score quick runs and keep that momentum through to the death."

Now in his seventh KFC BBL season, Heazlett said he's now comfortable playing multiple roles within the Heat's batting order.

"I don't really mind too much, but I finished the year last season batting at four and scored some runs there in the second last game and I felt comfortable there," Heazlett said when asked on his preferred batting position.

"I'm enjoying that role of having to come in and be adaptable.

"It's been good to score a few runs and I've had a few things go my way. Hopefully I can continue on with that momentum now."

Brisbane could only manage 140 and 151 respectively against the Thunder and Scorchers and have come under fire in recent years for being too focused on hitting boundaries, resulting in frequently being bowled out cheaply.

But Heazlett said new coach Wade Seccombe, who has taken over from former Australia coach Darren Lehmann, had been strong on striking a balance between knowing when to attack and when to remain circumspect, and that it would result in big totals when everything clicked.

"There's small changes here and there, we're definitely looking to be really good at rotating the strike," Heazlett said on the change of coach.

"We still want to look to hit boundaries, that's the key in T20 cricket.

"We need to be positive; we need to be aggressive and still put on a show for the people who come and watch, but we need to be smart and know where we can get our singles and rotate the strike off the good balls."

And the Heat top order batter is predicting some familiar names to step up now the burden of being winless had been shaken, tipping the 'Bash Brothers' to return to their hard-hitting best.

"Lynny (Chris Lynn) got off to a fast start for us last game and made it easier for us through the middle," Heazlett said.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing Max (Bryant) take control soon, he loves batting here at the Gabba … so if he can contribute there as well that would be awesome."

English duo Ben Duckett and Tom Abell add considerable depth and class to the Heat's top six, and Heazlett said both we're primed to contribute with the bat having taken time to settle.

"Our overseas players will keep getting used to these wickets and I think they'll love batting at the Gabba," Heazlett said.

"Ben has been a great addition to the squad, he batted really well in our first game from a tough position against the Thunder.

"He'll have faced all of the Thunder bowlers when we come up against them next and he can do that again.

"Tom is awesome to have around the group as well, he's just come off the tour with the English Lions.

"It's a tough transition from red ball to white ball cricket, but now he's had some time in the nets and in the game to hone his T20 skills, I think he'll be raring to go."

In preparing for their first game at the Gabba for BBL|11, a return fixture against the Thunder on Sunday night, Heazlett said morale was high within the group who were looking to even their ledger and put together a string of winning performances.

"We had some success against them last year … so we'll be taking some confidence into next game knowing we know how to go, and it just comes down to execution," he said.

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