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Cavalry coming to rescue for Heat in BBL

3 minute read

Brisbane will welcome back teenage spin prodigy Mujeeb Ur Rahman as the Heat look to bounce back from an opening game loss in the Big Bash League.

After watching an inexperienced Brisbane lineup make a disappointing start to the Big Bash League on Friday, the cavalry is coming for Heat coach Darren Lehmann.

The Heat announced on Sunday experienced English batter Joe Denly had signed on as a replacement for Tom Banton, who withdrew from the tournament last week citing fatigue with living inside COVID bubbles.

While Denly won't be available until after Christmas, Lehmann is banking on some new faces to be back on deck for Monday's clash with Sydney Thunder in Canberra.

Afghanistan teenage spin prodigy Mujeeb Ur Rahman missed the six-wicket loss to the Melbourne Stars on Friday but has since joined up with the team following his recovery from COVID-19.

The 19-year-old is clear to play against the Thunder while Lehmann is also hoping Australia A representatives Mark Steketee and Jack Wildermuth will also be available.

"We've got a young side at the moment," Lehmann said.

"We're waiting for a few guys to come back ... (Joe) Burns is away, Marnus (Labuschagne) is away.

"Mitch Swepson is one of our senior players even though he's young as well so we're missing a few in action at the moment.

"Hopefully we'll get those Australia A players back if they get released in time ... we just have to wait what the medicos come up with there. "

The Heat were comprehensively outplayed against the Stars, a performance labelled by Lehmann as disappointing, but he was confident there wouldn't be any lingering concerns from that loss against the Thunder.

"Probably a little bit of first game nerves more than anything," Lehmann said.

"That's gone now ... we'll start to see some players really let go and actually enjoy the T20."

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