Little-known Brisbane newcomer Josh Brown will look to inspire the Heat again as they battle the Sydney Sixers at a sold out North Sydney Oval.
And he won’t have to wait long to get his shot, with the Sixers winning the toss and electing to bowl on Wednesday night.
Brown set the Gabba alight on New Year’s Day when, in just his second game in the Big Bash League, he slogged a brilliant 62 in just 23 balls.
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It led legend Adam Gilchrist to label Brown his “new favourite player”.
Sixers veteran Dan Hughes said his side was now more aware of what Brown can do with the bat after their New Year’s Day clash.
“We literally had a five-minute conversation about him before the game … we obviously know not where to bowl on Wednesday night,” he said on SEN.
“North Sydney Oval isn’t going to be big enough for him.
“I’ve never seen anything like that before. It was great to see a guy out there and take his opportunity.”
Heat coach Wade Seccomb hopes Brown doesn’t prove to be a “one innings wonder” and can repeat his heroics at North Sydney Oval.
“He’s only got to clear 60 metres to put it on the hill,” he laughed on RSN Radio.
There was also major controversy as Heat bowler Michael Neser made an athletic catch going in and outside of the playing area, eventually declared legal to the surprise of many.
More importantly for the Heat it was their second win of the season, and repeating the feat would move them off the bottom of the BBL table.
Seccomb is wary of heading to the smaller North Sydney Oval, where mis-hits easily clear the ropes.
“Sometimes the field placement doesn’t matter (at North Sydney),” he said.
“I think you take the size of the ground out of it and you play the cricket that you normally play.
“We’re going to expect mis-hits going over your head. The bowlers are on a hiding for nothing. Just accept your going to get hit a couple of times.”
As for the Sixers they’ll be looking to return to the form which earned them a four-match winning streak to end 2022.
They’ve made two changes to the side that was beaten by the Heat on ew Year’s Day, with import Chris Jordan returning for his second match of the tournament and Stephen O’Keefe returning from injury.
Jackson Bird has made way for Jordan, while Izharulhaq Naveed drops out for O’Keefe.
The match gets underway at 6:05pm EDT from North Sydney Oval.
TEAMS
Sixers: Josh Philippe (wk), James Vince, Daniel Hughes, Moises Henriques (c), Jordan Silk, Dan Christian, Hayden Kerr, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Chris Jordan, Stephen O’Keefe
Heat: Josh Brown, Colin Munro, Nathan McSweeney, Sam Billings, Jimmy Peirson (c) (wk), Ross Whiteley, James Bazley, Michael Neser, Mark Steketee, Mitch Swepson, Matt Kuhnemann
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