Munro to fill Lynn void for Heat in BBL

There is only one Chris Lynn but former New Zealand international Colin Munro is hoping to fill the void he will leave at the Brisbane Heat in this season's Big Bash League (BBL).

Munro has played 357 T20 games and scored 8917 runs in multiple competitions and once scored a 14-ball half-century for New Zealand in a T20 international against Sri Lanka.

The Heat are hoping that the 35-year-old can bring his big-hitting prowess to the table after Lynn's signing with the Adelaide Strikers for the 2022-23 season.

"If I can get half of Lynny's runs at the Gabba that would be awesome," Munro said.

"He has been exceptional for the Heat for a long period of time and is a really good friend of mine. I have played with him around the world, and against him, and he's a top bloke and top cricketer.

"I wish him all the best at the Strikers, but not too much. Hopefully, I can put some runs on the board."

Munro, who was a member of the Perth Scorchers 2021-22 BBL title win, has seen just about every scenario in T20 cricket around the world.

"I have played a lot of cricket and am moving into more of that leadership role as well," he said.

"You can't always promise runs. It would be nice to come here and say 'here is 400 runs' but for me it is about trusting the process, the plan and coming into a new environment and offering as much as I can to the players around me."

England international Sam Billings is another of the Heat's key international signings this season. Billings and Munro are set to link with the Desert Vipers in the new International League T20 (ILT) in the United Arab Emirates before the BBL finishes.

"Bilbo had a wonderful time last year with the Thunder and scored a lot of runs against us at Perth too," Munro said.

"Hopefully he can continue that. Him batting in the middle order against the spinners is priceless."

The Heat will be hoping that Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne can fill the breach when Munro and Billings join the ILT competition.

"(The ILT) does excite me because there is a lot of cricket on," Munro said.

"You can pick and choose and don't have to rely on just going to the IPL every year. I had given up (playing for) New Zealand three or four years ago … and now there are so many tournaments on offer.

"I am very fortunate the Heat have got my family over here and have looked after us very well in the 24 hours that we have been here."