BBL Leading Wicket-Taker Ben Laughlin Joins Brisbane Heat 

Big Bash League all-time highest wicket-taker Ben Laughlin has signed a two-year contract with Brisbane Heat. Laughlin will switch from Adelaide Strikers. The right-arm pacer has scalped 95 wickets in the Big Bash League.

In fact, Ben Laughlin still had one year left in his contract with Adelaide Strikers. However, he requested to be released to his home state. Laughlin has bowled with an average of 21.55 and an economy rate of 7.87. Brisbane Heat head coach Darren Lehmann welcomed Laughlin on board.

Lehmann also lauded Strikers’ management to abide by Laughlin’s request to release him.

“I think the Strikers management deserves a real wrap for the way they dealt professionally and compassionately with his request to be released,” Lehmann said. “In turn, the Heat are very pleased to welcome Ben to our club. I am looking forward to working with him again after he was in the Queensland team in the old KFC Big Bash in my first season with the Bulls.

“From a playing perspective, I’m a big admirer of how he deals so efficiently with the roles he is assigned. He’s been a very skilled performer in those overs when there is very little margin for error and has ridden the highs and lows that come with such a role.”

Brisbane Heat had already roped in former South African talisman, AB de Villiers. The Heat had also brought in England prodigy batsman Tom Banton, who was the second-highest run-scorer in the Vitality T20 Blast.

On the other hand, Adelaide Strikers have replaced Ben Laughlin with New South Wales seamer Harry Conwoy, who is yet to make his BBL debut.

Brisbane Heat will commence their BBL campaign against Sydney Thunder on 17 December at their home venue of Gabba. On the other hand, Adelaide Strikers will also take on Sydney Thunder in their first match of the season on 21st December.