Curran to add further sizzle to Heat's stacked pace stocks

Brisbane Heat's searing pace brigade has been bolstered even further ahead of BBL|16, with England's Tom Curran making the move north after two seasons at the Melbourne Stars.

Curran's one-year deal will see him link up with Spencer Johnson and Xavier Bartlett — both named in Australia's ODI squad to tour Zimbabwe and South Africa — alongside Test-capped quick Michael Neser, who penned a two-year contract with the Heat late last month.

It will be Curran's third BBL club in seven seasons since first lining up for the Sydney Sixers in BBL|08. The 31-year-old has taken 72 wickets in the BBL to date, with a scintillating 4-10 spell against the Adelaide Strikers in BBL|15 marking his best T20 bowling figures across the globe.

Curran is the third English player to commit to BBL|16 following the prized signing of Ben Stokes to the Strikers and Calvin Harrison to the Perth Scorchers.

Brisbane's full strength fast-bowling armament is yet to be fully realised after an injury-ravaged 12 months which saw the club finish a game outside the top four and culminate in the departure of coach Johan Botha with a year left to run on his contract.

Johnson was forced to sit out all of BBL|15 with a stress fracture in his back and emerging youngster Callum Vidler also sidelined with a similar setback.

Pakistan marquee signing Shaheen Shah Afridi was also withdrawn from the tournament after four matches following a knee cartilage injury.

It meant previously uncapped youngsters Tom Balkin and Oli Patterson were thrust into the limelight despite their inexperience as Bartlett and Jack Wildermuth shouldered much of the load, while the addition of Zaman Khan as an international replacement player late in the campaign was a valuable boost to the beleaguered pace outfit. All three are yet to be signed by the Heat ahead of BBL|16.

The addition of Curran to the Heat's bowling mix leaves new coach James Hopes with plenty of options, even if Neser finds himself unavailable later in the summer due to international red-ball commitments.

"We're very pleased to sign a player with Tom's skill level and experience," Hopes said in a statement.

"He's fiercely competitive and from my experience coaching him at Delhi in the IPL, he lifts the other players around him through his energy, drive and focus.

"I've been watching him in action last week for the Edinburgh team in the new Euro League where he has taken 10 wickets in four games so far, and I am sure he will enjoy bowling for us at the Gabba.

"Batting wise, he is very similar to Mchael Neser in the way he can influence a game by managing the innings, either counterattacking himself or getting the best out of his partner.

"Tom's BBL experience with the Sixers and Stars is a bonus as he knows the Australian venues and conditions very well which will undoubtedly benefit our playing group."

Although adding spinner Todd Murphy to their list, the Stars will be in the market for a new spearhead to fill the void of the departed Curran, who claimed 16 wickets from his 10 appearances in BBL|15, while last season's leading wicket-taker Haris Rauf is yet to sign on for BBL|16.

At the age of 42 by the time the season rolls around, Peter Siddle will again serve as the backbone of the Stars' quicks, with Marcus Stoinis — who had a career-best season with the ball with 15 scalps — to offer further support.

Former Heat recruits Mark Steketee and Tom Whitney also remain without deals for the Stars as BBL|16 approaches.

Brisbane Heat BBL|16 squad (so far): Xavier Bartlett (BBL|18), Max Bryant (BBL|18), Tom Curran (BBL|16), Lachlan Hearne (BBL|16), Spencer Johnson (BBL|17), Matt Kuhnemann (BBL|16), Nathan McSweeney (BBL|16), Michael Neser (BBL|17), Matthew Renshaw (BBL|17), Callum Vidler (BBL|16), Hugh Weibgen (BBL|17), Jack Wildermuth (BBL|16)

Uncontracted: Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan), Tom Alsop (England), Tom Balkin, Paddy Dooley, Liam Haskett, Zaman Khan (Pakistan), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Colin Munro (New Zealand), Oli Patterson, Jimmy Peirson, Jack Wood

 

Head coach: James Hopes