Photo Credit: Brisbane Heat
The WBBL Brisbane Heat will continue to support and back New Zealand leg-spinner Amelia Kerr after she confirmed this week that she would not play in next month’s Weber Women’s Big Bash League.
Following on from her withdrawal from New Zealand’s current tour of England due to prioritising her mental health and well-being, Kerr told the Heat that she is not yet ready to make a return to the playing arena.
The champion allrounder had signed a two-year deal last summer after being a part of the Heat squad for the previous two WBBL tournaments, including the WBBL|05 championship-winning team.
Brisbane Heat coach Ashley Noffke said the club was fully supportive of her decision to stay home in New Zealand and focus on her recovery.
“We have been in regular contact with Melie, her family and wider support network and fully understand and support the decision she has made,’’ he said.
“She has been honest and brave with her decisions and the Heat will be ready and willing to assist her in the future, whether for a return to playing or simply as part of her Australian circle of friends and teammates who will happily do what is best for her.”
“Melie knows we will be ready to pitch in and help whenever she is ready,” Noffke said.
Kerr thanked the Heat for their backing of her decision.
“I am very grateful for the Heat’s support,’’ she said.
“I am making really good progress and want to keep that going. It’s a tough decision as I love representing the Brisbane Heat and can’t speak highly enough of the support team and players.”
“I will be following the tournament with great interest and cheering the team on from New Zealand.”
“Good luck for the season and thanks for your understanding and care,” she said.
Kerr has made a lasting impact in her short but impressive career with the Heat to date.
In her 30 WBBL games for the Heat, she has taken 31 wickets at 20.16 including an exceptional economy rate of 5.80.
Noffke said the Heat was exploring its options to source a replacement player for the series which gets underway from Thursday 14 October.
“We’re working on a few things now and we’re confident we’ll achieve the right outcome for the club,’’ he said.
“Our squad is virtually finalised, so we’ll be looking forward to picking up the pace with our preparations ahead of the start of the WBBL.”
The WBBL Heat has announced the following signings for WBBL|07: Jess Jonassen (c), Anneke Bosch (int), Nadine de Klerk (Int), Grace Harris, Laura Kimmince, Mikayla Hinkley, Charli Knott, Georgia Prestwidge, Georgia Redmayne, Georgia Voll.
