The Brisbane Heat are hoping towering teenage pace bowler Matt Willans may one day help them reach great heights.
Willans, 19, will spend a second season on the Heat books as their Development Rookie contracted player with Brisbane coach Darren Lehmann excited to work with the 205cm left-arm paceman.
“He’s a very good athlete for such a big man and I think we will both get a lot out of him being around the group,’’ he said.
“The rookie role is one that I am pretty passionate about. Looking after young players now can pay off down the track as they make the transition from Pathways and Premier Cricket into higher levels.
“He’s a fine young man and we are very pleased to welcome him back to the club. I only heard good reports about him from last season so it was a pretty easy decision to sign him up again.
“I’m sure working with James Hopes and Ryan Harris around the training group will help him improve his skills,” Lehmann said.
The University of Queensland product will celebrate his signing in Perth where he is a key member of the Queensland under-19 team at the national titles that gets underway on Monday, with the prospect of winning selection in the Australian squad for the ICC Under-19 World Cup in South Africa in February.
Heat coaching assistant Ryan Harris will be coach of the Australian Under-19s for the World Cup.
Willans, a rookie-contracted player with the Queensland Bulls, will train with the Heat squad and be involved around the team on home match days as part of his role as a rookie player.
With 19 days to go until the Heat’s opening game on 17 December against the Sydney Thunder at the Gabba, Brisbane have two signings remaining to announce to complete their 18-player squad.
Ticket prices for Heat home games have again been maintained at family-friendly level, with adults from $22, kids from $8 and a family from just $48 for two adults and two children.
The Heat has announced the following contracted players for BBL|09.
Chris Lynn
Tom Banton (international)
AB de Villiers (international)
Mujeeb Ur Rahman (international)
Zahir Khan (International)
Ben Laughlin
James Pattinson
Max Bryant
Joe Burns
Ben Cutting
Sam Heazlett
Matthew Renshaw
Josh Lalor
Mitch Swepson
Jack Prestwidge
Mark Steketee
Jimmy Peirson
Marnus Labuschagne
Rookie: Matt Willans
