Vidler itching to 'let loose', targets Heat debut

Having watched injured from the sidelines for two years as his young fast bowling teammates made their mark in the Big Bash, Callum Vidler is eyeing his own long-awaited debut for the Brisbane Heat this summer.

The promising Queensland tearaway has been part of the Heat roster for the past two seasons but saw his hopes of pushing for his maiden BBL cap curtailed by osteitis pubis in BBL|14 and a back stress fracture in BBL|15.

Since leading Australia's world champion under-19 attack in 2024, the right-armer has left cricket fans with little doubt over his potential, taking 17 wickets in five impressive outings for Queensland before the back injury led to him missing the entire 2025-26 domestic season.

But the 20-year-old has returned to bowling off his full run-up at training in recent weeks, and while his priority is to remain healthy throughout the upcoming summer, the childhood Heat fan is desperate for that to include pulling on the club's teal jersey for the very first time.

Vidler will focus on the white-ball formats (one-dayers for Queensland and BBL) prior to the new year as he makes a gradual return from his first back stress fracture, with the plan to target a red-ball comeback in early 2027.

His last domestic appearance was the Sheffield Shield final in March 2025, where he was one of the Bulls' best in a losing cause against South Australia with five wickets for the match, including the Test scalps of Alex Carey and Nathan McSweeney.

"It's a dream of mine to play for the Heat," Vidler said. "(I'm part of) that younger generation that grew up watching the Heat, so all I've known is franchise cricket. It'd be an awesome goal of mine and something I want to do this season is play for the Heat.

"I feel like I've been a bit unlucky the past couple of years; last season I was fully out so I didn't have a chance to get picked. And the season before, I was still a bit fresh coming back from an osteitis pubis injury.

"The main thing is just being able to get through the season healthy without any complications. Hopefully I have a long career, and I don't really want to do any damage this season."

The right-armer has been back bowling since May, starting from a few steps before gradually extending his intensity and workloads under the watch of Queensland bowling coach Hamish Bennett and national pace bowling coach Adam Griffith.

"I started going off the full run (in July). I haven't fully let go of the handbrake yet, but it's been good fun just to run in and bowl," Vidler said.

"I've certainly learnt plenty out of it, and coming back now (the back) is feeling good. I've spent heaps of time in the gym, heaps of time running and a little bit of time batting as well.

"I just can't wait to be back out there, let loose, and be able to bowl as fast as I can again."

His time out has also given Vidler a front-row seat to the next wave of Queensland pace talent.

Oli Patterson and Tom Balkin both made eye-catching Heat debuts last season, while Bulls rookie Charlie Lachmund – who offers a different skill set with his ability to bowl inswing at high pace – impressed as Australia's best bowler during this year's U19 men's World Cup (12 wickets at 16.33), emulating Vidler from the previous tournament two years earlier.

There's also Vidler's former Australian U19 teammate Tom Straker, as well as 23-year-old Tom Whitney and 22-year-old Jem Ryan, who are all part of Queensland's list this season.

Far from adding pressure, Vidler sees that group as the fast-bowling battery – alongside nationally capped quicks Michael Neser, Xavier Bartlett and the Heat's Spencer Johnson – that will soon give Queensland and the Heat the kind of selection headaches every team wants.

"It's a bit nerve-wracking as a pacer that hasn't played in a while; I feel like I'm an old bloke now," he said.

"Watching Oli last season for the Heat was amazing, just the way he went about it and getting Babar Azam out (against Sydney Sixers). Tom Balkin as well, that debut was amazing at the Gabba (to defend nine runs off the final over against Adelaide Strikers).

"I feel like we've got a lot of young, exciting quicks, and hopefully if we can all stay in the park and keep developing our skills, it's going to be a good problem for Queensland and the Heat to have going forward."

The Heat will certainly be hoping for a better run of injuries in KFC BBL|16 under new coach James Hopes, with star quicks Johnson and Neser both missing significant periods of the past two Big Bash campaigns – the latter playing just two games last season after breaking back into the Test team and helping Australia win the Ashes. Combined with their batting woes, it's seen the Heat miss the finals in the two seasons since winning the BBL|13 championship.

"If I can get on the park, and hopefully we see Xavier (Bartlett), Neser and Spencer (Johnson) playing higher honours during the summer, I could potentially fill a role there," Vidler said.

The Heat will kick off their BBL|16 campaign at home against the Sixers on December 15 – the opening match in Australia after the season launch between Renegades and Scorchers in Chennai.