Brisbane Heat get Renshaw back for BBL finals match

Brisbane have been handed a boost for their BBL finals match against the Sydney Sixers, with Matt Renshaw to briefly exit Australia's Test squad to play.

MATTHEW RENSHAW.
MATTHEW RENSHAW. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Matt Renshaw will be released from Australia's Test squad to play for Brisbane in the Big Bash League finals as the Heat battle a player shortage.

On duty as a back-up batsman at the Adelaide Test, Renshaw will fly to Brisbane on Thursday evening to join up with the Heat squad.

He will be free to face the Sydney Sixers on Friday night on the Gold Coast, before flying back to Adelaide for day four of the Test against the West Indies.

Renshaw has anticipated he will have five hours between returning home from the BBL match and flying back to Adelaide.

His return comes as welcome news for the Heat, who can qualify straight through to a second successive final with a win over the Sixers.

After falling just short of becoming the first side to go through a BBL season undefeated, the Heat have lost overseas players Sam Billings and Colin Munro for the finals.

They are two of seven overseas players across the competition to leave ahead of the finals, heading to the UAE to feature in the lucrative ILT20.

The Heat are also without Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne, who are on Test duty.

Had Renshaw missed Friday night's match, the Heat would have been without their entire top five from their win over Perth at the Gabba last Wednesday.

Adding to the challenges for the Heat, they have been forced to play their finals matches on the Gold Coast, with the Gabba out of action for the second Test of the Frank Worrell Trophy.