Photo Credit: Brisbane Heat
The WBBL Brisbane Heat have moved swiftly to secure star New Zealand duo Amelia Kerr and Maddy Green for the coming rebel Women’s Big Bash League season.
The White Ferns pair played vital roles in the Heat’s championship win last season, with the pair producing stand-out performances in their inaugural WBBL season.
Leg-spinning allrounder Kerr struck with bat and ball throughout the tournament and clean-hitting top order bat Green delivered key innings in crunch games including the semi-final win over the Melbourne Renegades at Allan Border Field.
Kerr claimed 14 wickets with an economy rate of 6.22 while Green had a top score of 56 from 33 balls and match-defining 46 against the Renegades in the semi-final.
Both players are scheduled to be in action with the New Zealand team when they take on Australia in an ODI series in October in Australia.
Heat coach Ashley Noffke said the club was thrilled to welcome the New Zealand internationals back for a second season.
“They fitted in really easily to the group off the field and played very consistently across the tournament,’’ he said.
“Maddy took on the role we gave her and showed her class and composure throughout, as well as providing another element to our leadership group. Amelia has enormous presence for a player so young and she thrived in the WBBL environment,’’ he said.
“I think both players got a lot out of the experience, and they were certainly key recruits for us when it came to finalising our list.”
“Understandably we’re delighted to have them back again. Both players are determined to keep improving their individual games and we’re excited about providing them with the opportunity to do that.”
Noffke admitted there remained a degree of uncertainty about how the Heat would incorporate the international recruits into the club’s build-up to WBBL|06.
“Like a lot of things now, we have some plans in place but will need to be agile when it comes to finalizing things. New Zealand are due to be here playing Australia in September and October, so hopefully we can work things out around that,’’ he said.
Australia is due to play New Zealand in three T20 Internationals and three ODIs over the course of the home summer.
The New Zealanders join Australian representatives Jess Jonassen (captain) and Delissa Kimmince as Heat signings for WBBL|06.
Allan Border Field will host the repeat of last year’s Final between the Heat and Adelaide Strikers on the opening weekend of the rebel Women’s Big Bash League on October 17 and 18.
The Heat completed back-to-back titles with their six-wicket victory over Adelaide in front of a sold-out crowd.
The opening rounds in the Brisbane hub will also see the Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Sixers in action at Allan Border Field.
The WBBL will feature a record number of broadcast matches on Channel 7 and Foxtel, with 23 regular season matches and three finals to be shown.
The remaining 33 games will be streamed live on the CA Live app, cricket.com.au and Kayo Sports.
