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Brisbane Heat will begin their BBL campaign this week without Test trio Marnus Labuschagne, Joe Burns and James Pattinson with all three ordered to rest.
Cricket Australia has ordered Brisbane Heat trio Marnus Labuschagne, Joe Burns and James Pattinson to sit out the start of the Big Bash League this week.
The Heat open this summer's BBL on Tuesday against Sydney Thunder at the Gabba.
They then take on the Melbourne Stars at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast on Friday.
Despite it being 10 days before the start of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, all three of the Heat's Test trio have been told they can't play in the first two fixtures.
The Heat then take on the Sydney Sixers at the SCG on Sunday, but the proximity of that match to the second Test against New Zealand makes it unlikely any of the three will play.
Ex-Test allrounder Andrew Symonds says the call is a frustrating one for fans and difficult for those managing the players.
"It's a funny one because I remember back when I was playing you'd sort of want to come back and play," Symonds told AAP at Kayo's BBL launch in Brisbane.
"There'd be some blokes playing and some blokes not and then the problems would start.
"It's a decision-making position that no-one probably would want but it's a tricky one because, as I said, some blokes play, some blokes don't, what do you do?"
Heat captain Chris Lynn said it was disappointing to not have any of the trio available but he understands national team commitments have to take precedence.
In an atmosphere in which several players including Pattinson and allrounder Glenn Maxwell have all had to take breaks from the game due to mental health concerns, ensuring players take breaks when needed is important to Lynn.
"They've played some really good cricket over the past couple of months for Australia and they deserve that break," Lynn said.
"It's kind of a bit selfish if we say drag them back into the BBL even though we'd love to have them.
"At the end of the day we're still supporters of the Australian cricket team and we want the best out of them."
