The Heat will want to get back to the top in BBL|07 (Image: Cricket Australia Twitter)
The Brisbane Heat will want to get back to their championship-winning ways in WBBL|07 after being knocked out in the finals last season.
The Heat went on an impressive winning streak that made everyone forget about their one win in their first seven matches.
Jess Jonassen will captain the side once again despite still recovering from a stress reaction in her lower leg that will see her miss the start of the season.
The Heat will continue to be coached by Ashley Noffke who took the team to glory in WBBL|05.
Last Season:
The Brisbane Heat were unable to secure a ‘three-peat’ in WBBL|06, but it wasn’t without trying. After managing eight wins and four losses, the Heat finished second on the points table after an impressive seven game winning streak in the second half of the season.
After winning their first match for the season, two no results followed by 4 consecutive defeats saw the Heat without a second win until their eighth match. From that moment the Heat didn’t lose another game for the rest of the regular season.
The winning streak instilled belief that the Heat could very well win the competitions three times in a row. However, it wasn’t to be when the Sydney Thunder got the better of the Heat in the semi-finals before becoming the eventual champions.
Georgia Redmayne took the mantle from Beth Mooney as the leading run scorer for the Heat in WBBL|06. Redmayne finished the season with 357 total runs with her most notable performance coming against the Hobart Hurricanes. Redmayne scored 61 runs off 33 balls, chasing down the Hurricanes total of 82 with more than eight over remaining.
The Brisbane Heat named Amelia Kerr as their player of the year after an outstanding season with the ball. The 20-year-old leg spinner took 17 wickets for the season, the sixth-highest in the competition.
Squad:
Jess Jonassen (c), Anneke Bosch (South Africa), Nadine de Klerk (South Africa), Poonam Yadav (India), Zoe Cooke, Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Laura Kimmince, Mikayla Hinkley, Charli Knott, Georgia Prestwidge, Georgia Redmayne, Courtney Sippel, Georgia Voll
Big Inclusion:
The Brisbane Heat have managed to secure the signature of Indian international leg spinner, Poonam Yadav. Having not previously featured in the WBBL, Yadav travelled with the Indian squad for their series against Australia.
Yadav has featured in 71 matches for India in WT20I’s in which she has taken 98 wickets and will become one of the most experienced members of the Heat squad.
The Heat have also acquired South African international Anneka Bosch who has also never previously feature in the WBBL. Bosch is an allrounder that bowls medium pace and will be a useful inclusion for Noffke’s side.
18-year-old allrounder, Ellie Johnston, and ACT Meteors’ pace bowler, Zoe Cooke, have also joined the Heat for WBBL|07. Cooke has previously been involved in the Melbourne Renegades squad.
Who’s Missing?
The absence of the talented Amelia Kerr will be sorely missed by the Brisbane Heat in WBBL|07. Kerr has made the brave decision to withdraw from the WBBL for the current season, deciding that it is important for her to remain in New Zealand and focus on her mental health.
One of the most promising young bowlers in world cricket, Kerr signed with the Heat for the first time in WBBL|05. After finishing WBBL|06 as the Heat’s player of the season, she signed an extension for another two seasons.
Kerr is very thankful for the Heat’s support:
“I am making really good progress and want to keep that going,” she said
“It’s a tough decision as I love representing the Brisbane Heat and can’t speak highly enough of the support team and players.”
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Wildcard Player:
Power hitter, Laura Kimmince, has the opportunity to become a highly influential member in the Heat’s WBBL|07 campaign.
Kimmince finished with the third most sixes in the competition last season despite batting lower down the order. The dynamic batter developed a reputation last season of being able to come in lower in the order and score runs quickly, accessing different parts of the ground with some unconventional strokeplay.
When the Heat finds themselves in tricky scenarios, she will have a role to play.
As the oldest member of the Heat squad, Kimmince will have to be required to use her experience and knowledge to guide the Heat to another finals campaign.
Rookie to Watch:
The development of young gun, Georgia Voll, is one that Brisbane Heat fans should be excited about. The 18-year-old played 11 games in her first WBBL|06 and will begin the new season in the best XI.
Noffke believes the potential that Voll possesses will eventually see her represent the country:
“Playing for Australia I think is a given, (it takes) hard work to get to those positions and to get those opportunities is (a challenge) for her to combat, but with her skill level and determination to do well (she can get there),” she told cricket.com.au.
Squad Strengths:
In true Heat fashion, Brisbane will look to exploit the explosiveness their batters provide. Provided they’re able to protect their wickets, the Heat will put on totals that are difficult to chase.
If the Heat can manage to bat the full 20 overs, it’s going to take something great to beat. With Grace Harris and Georgia Redmayne at the head of the order, they have an excellent back-up in Jonassen and Voll, followed by the South African duo of Bosch and de Klerk, Kimmince being the anchor, the Heat’s batting depth runs deep.
Squad Weaknesses:
The Brisbane Heat have a lack of depth in their pace bowling department and particularly an overreliance on their spinners.
The Heat attack could prove to be too predictable, making it easy for opposition batters in their preparations.
Best XI:
- Grace Harris
- Georgia Redmayne
- Jess Jonassen
- Georgia Voll
- Anneka Bosch
- Nadine de Klerk
- Laura Kimmince
- Charlie Knott
- Poonam Yadav
- Georgia Prestwidge
- Nicola Hancock
The Brisbane Heat will play their first WBBL|07 against the Perth Scorchers at Blundstone Arena, Hobart on the 17th of October, 10:15 am local time.
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