Heat to hold spots for young talent in revamped T20 league

Queensland Cricket is set to introduce the 'KFC T20 Max' competition this August, with the intention of providing up-and-coming players with a more direct pathway to the Brisbane Heat's men's and women's sides.

The men's competition will run across 17 days from August 18 to September 4, and will involve all 12 Premier Cricket clubs, with some matches to be played under lights at the newly-redeveloped Allan Border Field, where the final will also take place.

Each club will be able to sign three interstate recruits, as well as regional players, to complement their existing teams, with contracted Queensland Bulls and Brisbane Heat players available for selection.

The Heat will also keep open contract spots on its 2022-23 list to provide opportunities for players who impress in the KFC T20 Max competition to potentially join the BBL club.

The Katherine Raymont Shield T20 competition will also be played under the new 'T20 Max' banner, with the women's competition taking place in its usual timeslot around October ahead of the Weber Women's Big Bash League.

"We're delighted that KFC has backed this competition which gives contracted players and Premier club players the chance to impress leading into the BBL and domestic cricket seasons," said Queensland Cricket CEO Terry Svenson.

"It is designed to strengthen the pathway to the BBL for aspiring players and provide a high quality T20 opportunity for current BBL players."

While the Heat's women's squad has enjoyed considerable success with two titles and two top three finishes in the past four seasons, the men have struggled in recent years, making the finals just once from their past five attempts.

Earlier this month, they announced they had severed ties with all-time BBL leading run-scorer Chris Lynn.

"This is a sign that Brisbane Heat are going more to winning than entertaining," said QC board member Ian Healy, who is also a part of the body's recruitment and retention committee.

"I don't think the winning part has come easily for us, and neither party have been enjoying the relationship last year.

"'Lynny' gets so heavily relied upon year after year and it's just become not enjoyable for him, so it's a mutual thing; we were going nowhere as a team, and Lynny wasn't enjoying it."

Ironically, Lynn could be available for the T20 Max competition should he choose to be involved, after the 32-year-old was overlooked for The Hundred tournament in the UK that runs through a similar timeframe.

Lynn is currently playing in England’s T20 Blast with Northamptonshire, again lighting up social media last week when a six landed in the back garden of a nearby property.

The Heat will be looking to the local competition to bolster their playing stocks, with the state's recent U19 national triumphs in both the men's and women's competitions evidence the potential is there.

At this stage, the Heat's on-contract playing list is Xavier Bartlett, James Bazley, Max Bryant, Sam Heazlett, Matthew Kuhnemann, Michael Neser, Mitchell Swepson and Jack Wildermuth.

Captain Jimmy Peirson, paceman Mark Steketee and star allrounder Marnus Labuschagne are all expected to re-sign with the club, while this year's inaugural BBL overseas player draft will be another avenue for potentially high-profile recruits.

Queensland captain Usman Khawaja has also been widely tipped to join the Heat, with the Brisbane resident having recently ended his long affiliation with Sydney Thunder.