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Bevon Jacobs to take leave from Auckland for Brisbane Heat BBL stint

New Zealand batter Bevon Jacobs will temporarily leave Auckland’s Plunket Shield commitments to join Brisbane Heat as a short-term replacement for Tom Curran in the 2026 Big Bash League. Jacobs, a seasoned franchise player with stints in the IPL, PSL, and CPL, will make his Heat debut in the team’s opening home match against Sydney Sixers at The Gabba on December 15, 2026, and will also feature in away games on December 17 and 21.

His absence means he will miss Auckland’s Plunket Shield opener against Northern Districts, scheduled to begin November 19 in Hamilton. Jacobs’ selection follows a strong domestic campaign, including five consecutive half-centuries in a Super Smash season and a 40-ball T20 Max century in 2024, while his international resume includes 11 T20I caps and a recent tour with New Zealand A in Australia’s Top End T20s, where he scored 58 off 30 balls against Hobart Hurricanes Academy.

Queensland Cricket’s high-performance director, Bennett King, highlighted Jacobs’ impact in the KFC T20 Max as a key factor in the signing, noting his versatility as both an opener and finisher. Jacobs’ BBL stint coincides with a five-match T20I series against India at home, beginning October 22 in Christchurch, before his return to domestic duties in New Zealand.

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