By re-signing former New Zealand batter Colin Munro for a further two seasons, Brisbane Heat have taken a significant step towards winning the BBL.
After missing out on New Zealand’s T20 World Cup roster, Munro announced his retirement from international cricket earlier this year. Over his 428 T20 outings across several events, he has amassed 10,961 runs at a career strike-rate of 141.25, with five hundreds and 67 half-centuries.
As the fourth player in the BBL to be signed under new regulations that permit each team to sign one international on a multi-year contract before of the foreign player draft, the 37-year-old is gearing up for his third season with the Heat.
Munro played for the Heat the previous two seasons and collected 502 runs with scorching hits of 98 and 99 not out. Munro was a part of the Perth Scorchers’ 2021–22 BBL title triumph.
Due to his new Heat contract, Munro will be available for every BBL game, including the finals, despite having gone early in both seasons to play for Desert Vipers in the UAE-based ILT20 tournament.
While Heat cult favourite and last season’s finals hero Josh Brown will be joining the Melbourne Renegades, England international and former Heat standout Sam Billings has signed with Sydney Thunder for the upcoming season.
With Usman Khawaja and Matt Renshaw from Australia, Munro will head a potent Heat lineup that aspires to be a championship team.
“It was pretty poignant being away and watching the boys go one better to win the title, after going through the disappointment of the previous season when we got beaten at the death in the final,'” Munro stated.
“This team is formidable once more, and I’m excited to contribute to the projects we may work on together. As a group, we should be enthusiastic about the new objectives we will seek this summer since there are always chances to improve.”
Johan Botha has taken Wade Seccombe’s post as head coach of the Heat for the next campaign.