Marnus the toast of Heat fans

Marnus Labuschagne may be at the centre of “Toastie-gate” but Brisbane Heat fans are toasting him in a different way.

Revealed as the player who earnt the ire of national coach Justin Langer for bringing a toasted sandwich on to the field during Australia’s recent Test series against India, Labuschagne remains a tasty proposition – with bat and ball – for a Heat side just two wins away from a BBL title.

Labuschagne has not only added some much-needed stability to the Heat’s batting order since returning from Test duty, he has also formed a deadly leg-spinning combination with Brisbane’s first-choice tweaker Mitch Swepson.

“It’s been great to see Marnie bowl and get some good overs,” Swepson said.

“In the past he’s probably been frustrated that he hasn’t got the opportunity to bowl in this (T20) format of the game.

“You’re seeing what he can do now when he’s given that opportunity, so it’s great to see him doing well.”

King @marnus3cricket straight into the game! Snaring his QLD Captain @Uz_Khawaja! ?

WATCH ? https://t.co/Y83iH7Q2p5#BBLFinals #BringtheHEAT pic.twitter.com/vXD9f8aTm0

Swepson revealed he was being reminded by fans in Canberra during the Heat’s win over the Sydney Thunder on Sunday night that Labuschagne was now Brisbane’s best spinner.

“I was copping it on the boundary the other night (from people) saying I was definitely the second spinner in the team,” Swepson said.

“That’s fine. It takes a little bit of the pressure off me … it’s all good.”

The Heat again play at Canberra’s Manuka Oval on Thursday night when a win over the Perth Scorchers will secure them a place in Saturday’s BBL final against the Sydney Sixers at the SCG.

The Scorchers had earnt the right to host Thursday’s match at Perth’s Optus Stadium, but Western Australia’s COVID-19-caused lockdown led to the venue being changed.

|It’s nice not having to do the long flight over there and potentially back if we were to win as well,” Swepson said.

“For us, the less travel, the better.”

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