Redland allrounder Simon Milenko will fill Brisbane Heat's final contracted position for this season’s KFC T20 Big Bash League.
The 25-year-old was a surprise packet for the Queensland Bulls during their Matador Cup campaign last month, hitting 54 from 39 balls against NSW on debut and following it two games later with 3-10 against Victoria.
Last year’s winner of the Peter Burge Medal as the best and fairest player in the Brisbane Premier Grade competition, Milenko is the 18th player contracted by the Heat for BBL|04.
Currently on the comeback trail from an ankle injury that cut short his one-day campaign with the Bulls, Milenko hopes to return in Premier Grade cricket for Redlands next week.
Originally from Lismore in northern NSW, he began his grade cricket career with the Gold Coast Dolphins as a teenager and represented Queensland at Under-19 level.
He switched to Redlands last season with immediate effect, scoring 790 runs and taking 40 wickets.
Milenko is a senior accountant with the Walz Group, a Central Queensland based firm that provides specialist construction and maintenance services to the resources, energy and infrastructure sectors.
Heat coach Stuart Law liked what he saw from the right-handed bat and right-arm medium-fast bowler while he had his Bulls coaching hat on during the Matador Cup.
“Milly was invited to train with the QAS squad in the wake of his club efforts and 2nd XI form last season and he was one of our most impressive performers during the off-season,’’ Law said.
“He took his chance with both hands when the Bulls called him up and we would expect him to do something similar if and when his chance comes with the Heat. He knows his game well, has a calm head on his shoulders and can sum up a situation and act effectively.”
Milenko has been a spectator at BBL games in the past but is raring to take his exposure to a new level.
“I can’t wait to be honest,’’ he said.
"I had hoped I might get a look in somewhere if things went to plan so joining the Heat is probably the best outcome I could hope for,’’ he said.
“It will be a bit of a juggle with work but I’ve been doing that for a long time now so it is nothing I am not prepared for."
