BBL 2017/18: Brisbane Heat re-sign Brendon McCullum
What's the story?
The Brisbane Heat have added another feather to their cap, capturing Brendon McCullum's signature for a further three seasons.
McCullum, who is the captain of the side, will remain with the franchise until the 2019/2020 edition.
In case you didn't know...
Earlier, the Heat also managed to tie down destructive top-order batsman Chris Lynn for a whopping $1m, five-year deal. Lynn and McCullum form the core of the Heat side and with the two committing to the team, expect Brisbane to fire on all cylinders in the upcoming seasons.
The New Zealander was Brisbane's leading run scorer in the previous edition of the BBL, having amassed 323 runs from eight innings. Lynn, meanwhile, despite featuring in just five games, finished as the fifth highest run scorer in the tournament with 309 runs.
The heart of the matter
"It's been an important year with the management of our playing list with a large number of players committing to long-term deals including Chris Lynn," Andrew McShea, general manager of the Heat said. "Brendon's impact on our club on and off the field is significant and the values that he represents are also those that we see as integral to the Brisbane Heat. To extend his contract through to the end of BBL 09, provides our fans, members and commercial partners with a clear identity of our club."
McCullum has been in decent form of late, scoring heavily for the Rangpur Riders in the Bangladesh Premier League and leading the side to the title. While the 36-year-old had a modest start to the tournament, he went into overdrive at the business end, compiling half-centuries in the semi-finals and final.
This bodes well for the Heat as he put to rest concerns regarding the state of his arm which he broke playing for the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League.
What's next?
McCullum will be hoping to take his side one step further from their semi-final finish last time around. The Heat begin their campaign against the Melbourne Stars on Wednesday.
Brisbane Heat squad: Max Bryant, Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Brendan Doggett, Jason Floros, Cameron Gannon, Sam Heazlett, Shadab Khan (International), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Lalor, Chris Lynn, Brendon McCullum (International, Captain), Jimmy Peirson, Matt Renshaw, Alex Ross, Mitchell Swepson, Mark Steketee, Cameron Valente.
Author's take
McCullum is easily one of the greatest T20 batsmen the game has ever seen. International retirement doesn't seem to have affected his game one bit as he has continued to carve up bowling attacks left, right and centre with the brutality of an inexperienced butcher.