Renshaw returns to Heat, trades places with Lynn

Chris Lynn has effectively traded places with Matthew Renshaw after the Adelaide Strikers agreed to release the Queensland left-hander to return to the Brisbane Heat for family reasons.

Renshaw, who plays his state cricket with Queensland, was contracted to the Strikers until the end of KFC BBL|12 but approached the club during the off-season to seek an early exit from his deal and return home to Brisbane.

The 26-year-old and his wife Josie are expecting their first child in December and sought to be with their families in Brisbane at the time of the baby's birth.

He has signed a three-year deal with Heat that will see him play for the club until at least the end of BBL|14.

Releasing Renshaw also benefits the Strikers by freeing up space in their salary cap for the arrival of Lynn.

While David Warner – who signed a two-year deal with Sydney Thunder that will see him play their final five regular season matches following the New Year's Test – will have his contract topped up by Cricket Australia similar to platinum internationals in Sunday inaugural BBL Draft, CA is not paying anything to boost Lynn's salary above what the Strikers have offered within their salary cap.

Lynn has signed an 11-game deal with the Strikers after reaching a compromise with Cricket Australia to play in both the Big Bash and UAE International League T20 (ILT20) tournaments this summer.

The BBL's all-time leading run-scorer parted ways with the Heat in May and will be granted a 'No Objection Certificate' (NOC) following the Strikers' blockbuster clash with his old club at Adelaide Oval on January 14 to join the Adani-owned Gulf Giants franchise in the UAE league.

Renshaw – pending the arrival of his first child – and Lynn will first do battle in BBL|12 at the Gabba on December 23 when the two batters face their former clubs for the first time.

The Queenslander previously played 24 matches for the Heat between BBL|07 and BBL|09 before making the move to Adelaide where he hit 513 runs at 23.31 in 25 matches in his two seasons with the club.

Image Id: C474D369EE8A4E6EB6B4FD068FB06560 Image Caption: Renshaw played 25 matches for the Strikers across two seasons // Getty

He will be in line to replace Lynn at the top of the Heat's batting order when they open their season against the Melbourne Renegades in Cairns on December 15.

Renshaw has enjoyed an outstanding northern summer with English county Somersetalongside Tasmanian veteran Peter Siddle, scoring 891 runs at 44.55 with three centuries across both the first-class and 50-over competitions.

He has been on the fringes of a recall to the national side this year after being named as a standby for the Test series in Pakistan in March and being added to the ODI squad during the same tour when Ashton Agar contracted COVID-19.

He was also part of the Australia A tour to Sri Lanka in June.

Renshaw arrived back in Australia from the UK last night and expressed his thanks to the Adelaide Strikers and the South Australian Cricket Association for their compassionate approach to his request.

"It was not an easy discussion to have by any means, and I have nothing but gratitude for the professional and considerate way Jason Gillespie and Tim Nielsen … went about making their decision when I approached them about a release," he said.

"It's a very exciting time for Josie and I, and we wanted to be able to share that with our families at home in Brisbane when the baby comes.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Strikers. I have a lot of good mates there and enjoyed the environment that the club provided for us.

"I wish them all the best for the coming season and take plenty of positives away from my time in Adelaide."

Renshaw's most productive Big Bash season was his last one with the Heat in 2019-20 when he notched 348 runs striking at 129.85 with three half centuries and head coach Wade Seccombe said the opportunity to bring him back to Brisbane was ideal.

"We've been delighted to see him develop and grow as a player and a person with Queensland," he said.

"He's not far away from making a return to the national team in our opinion and the fact he has produced good performances while filling a variety of roles for the teams he has played in shows he has the skills and the mental toughness to go much further with his cricket."

Renshaw joins state captain Usman Khawaja as the Heat's inclusions for BBL|12 after the Test opener signed a monster four-year deal to also play T20 cricket closer to home following 11 seasons with the Sydney Thunder.

The Heat will have another chance to add to their list for this summer at the BBL|12 Draft on Sunday night, which will be broadcast live on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports from 6.30pm.

The club will be eligible to retain one of Mujeeb ur Rahman, Tom Abell and Fakhar Zaman in the draft if they wish with the trio having played for the club last season.

Brisbane Heat BBL|12 squad (so far): Xavier Bartlett, James Bazely, Max Bryant, Sam Heazlett, Usman Khawaja, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, Jack Wildermuth

Image Id: https://www.cricket.com.au/~/media/News/2022/07/BBL-draft-order?la=en&hash=4AE6FB0B4F134F189B20FE1111E0BA90E8F9850C Image Caption: The order for the BBL|12 Draft has been determined

The BBL|12 Draft will be held on Sunday, August 28 and broadcast live on Foxtel and Kayo Sports following the first ODI between Australia and Zimbabwe in Townsville.

Click here for a full list of players to have nominated for the BBL|12 Draft.