Brisbane Heat star Nathan McSweeney is adamant his side\u2019s impressive BBL campaign won\u2019t be derailed by having to move from the Gabba to the Gold Coast for the finals series.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The first-placed Heat will welcome back Test pair Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja on Wednesday night when they hope to maintain their unbeaten start to the season against reigning champions Perth at the Gabba.<\/p>\n
Such has been the Heat\u2019s form, they have already guaranteed themselves a top-four berth and at least one home finals match despite still have two games of the regular season to play.<\/p>\n
However, due to the Gabba needing to be prepared for this month\u2019s Australia-West Indies Test in Brisbane, the Heat\u2019s home finals games will be played at Carrara venue Heritage Bank Stadium,<\/p>\n
The slow drop-in wicket used at the Gold Coast arena will be in stark contrast to the fast and bouncy Gabba pitch.<\/p>\n
\u201cNaturally it\u2019s probably slightly slower than the Gabba,\u201d McSweeney said on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cPersonally, I love playing the Gabba. It suits my game really well, but (Heat opener) Colin Munro and players like that have really big scores at (Heritage Bank Stadium), so I don\u2019t think it\u2019s going to be a big issue for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, New Zealand import Munro won\u2019t be available for the finals series due to playing commitments in the UAE-based T20 International League.<\/p>\n
Regardless, McSweeney tipped the Heat to embrace their finals\u2019 home ground.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fans down there are awesome,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ground is a really nice ground so it shouldn\u2019t make a big difference for us. <\/p>\n
\u201cHaving a home final is massive for us and for our fans. They\u2019ve been excellent this year at the Gabba and (Heritage Bank Stadium) is a great ground as well, so we\u2019re really looking forward to getting down there and playing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Labuschagne and Khawaja are available for Heat selection for just the second time this season on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
Having played in the Heat\u2019s opening match of their 2023-24 campaign, a 103-run win over the Melbourne Stars, the pair then left to represent Australia in the recently completed three-Test series against Pakistan.<\/p>\n
Heat coach Wade Seccombe said: \u201cIt will be good for the group to have Usman and Marnus back around the team, especially as we get into the business end of the competition\/<\/p>\n
\u201cThey helped us get the BBL season off to a confident start and no doubt they will enjoy the chance to get out in front of the Heat fans at the Gabba before they refocus on the rest of the Test summer (against the West Indies).\u201d<\/p>\n
Following Wednesday night\u2019s clash, the Scorchers will host the Heat on Saturday, with McSweeney saying back-to-back games against Perth would serve as an ideal preparation for the finals. <\/p>\n
\u201cPerth have been awesome for the past couple of years, so we\u2019re going to have to be at our best,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t quite nailed it. We\u2019ve won the last few games in a row and we haven\u2019t been beaten yet, but I feel like we haven\u2019t played our best cricket, so hopefully we can search for that perfect game, and bat and bowl together in one game.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t really nailed both. That\u2019ll be good no doubt, but we\u2019re playing great cricket so no reason why we can\u2019t win.\u201d<\/p>\n
Originally published as Brisbane Heat confident of adjusting to new home ground during BBL finals series<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n