The Brisbane Heat have locked away middle order rock Max Bryant and pace ace Xavier Bartlett for the next four KFC Big Bash League summers as well as re-signing Nathan McSweeney and Callum Vidler.
Quartet Locked In For Heat
Bryant and Bartlett each signed contract extensions prior to this week’s official BBL Player Movement Window that runs until Thursday 6 February.
The Heat, which bowed out of the race for the Finals over the weekend, also re-signed Australian Test squad player Nathan McSweeney and young pace bowler Callum Vidler prior to the Player Movement Window.
The Heat have contracted the maximum 10-players allowed, with the remainder of their list to be filled once the contracting embargo period ends, and via the BBL International Player draft later this year.
Bryant, in his seventh season with the Heat, led the way with the bat this season, producing vital knocks of 77 against the Melbourne Stars and 72 against the Sydney Thunder to inspire a remarkable victory at the Gabba.
He finished the BBL|14 with 259 runs at 43.16 at a strike-rate of 164.96.
Already under contract for BBL|15 next season, he has extended his contract with the Heat until BBL|18, the 2028-29 season.
The 25-year-old has played 71 BBL games to date and is now on track to register his 100th BBL match for the Heat at some stage in the future.
Bartlett, 26, has played 49 matches and taken 60 wickets for the Heat since signing as an injury replacement player as a teenager.
Also under contract for BBL|15 next season, he has extended his contract with the Heat until BBL|18, the 2028-29 season.
Vidler and McSweeney have re-signed for the next two seasons, securing them to the club until the end of BBL|16.
The Brisbane Heat’s 10 contracted players for next season and beyond are: Usman Khawaja, Colin Munro, Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Spencer Johnson, Matt Kuhnemann, Nathan McSweeney, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Callum Vidler.
Brisbane Heat CEO Terry Svenson said the squad was well placed to rebound next season despite the disappointment of not making the Finals in the wake of the previous two seasons where the team finished as runners-up and then champions.
“We’ll take some time to review the season and then get on with the process of building on, and maintaining, what we have achieved over the past few summers,’’ he said.
“We’ve signed a strong core to work with, and we will continue to offer attractive opportunities for talented players coming into BBL|15 and beyond.”
The Heat entered BBL|14 as reigning champions and were in the hunt to make the Finals until their last game against the Renegades in Melbourne.