Photo Credit: Brisbane Heat
The Brisbane Heat have re-signed the reigning Queensland Fire Player of the Year to further bolster their playing ranks ahead of this year’s Weber Women’s Big Bash League.
Batter Mikayla Hinkley had dual reasons to celebrate the opening days of NAIDOC Week with the proud Kunja woman extending her Heat contract for a further two seasons.
Her re-signing announcement today coincides with the milestone of 100 Days to Go until the October 13 start of this year’s WBBL, the world’s premier cricket league for women.
Earlier this year, Hinkley became the first Indigenous player to win the Queensland Fire award, after her best season with the bat in the Women’s National Cricket League
.
She was the Fire’s leading runs-scorer with 319 runs at 53.16, including her maiden WNCL century, a superb 121 not out against WA where she was the only Fire batter to go past 20 runs, as Queensland chased down 208.
Hinkley, 24, was born and raised in Penrith, but her discovery of her Indigenous culture surrounding the south-west Queensland lands around Cunnamulla and Charleville has resulted in several important contributions to Queensland Cricket.
She played a significant role in developing the inaugural Indigenous playing shirt worn by the Brisbane Heat in the respective First Nations Rounds in the WBBL and BBL competitions in 2021-22.
Along with local Indigenous artist and Mandandanji woman ‘Auntie’ Delly McDonald, the Heat playing shirts were visible, insightful, and highly praised for their meaningful story-telling and vivid imagery.
Hinkley’s personal journey of discovery has been mirrored by a surge in her cricket career, with her decision to relocate to Queensland in 2019 sparking improving returns each season.
Heat coach Ashley Noffke said he was delighted the right-handed stroke maker had elected to extend her ties with the club.
“Mik brings passion to everything she does,’’ he said. “She’s a strong role model off the field for her people and her culture and on the field, she never lets up when it comes to backing her teammates.”
“We’re really pleased with how her batting is flourishing and the way she has embraced her role as a finisher. She keeps challenging herself to improve and get better and plays with confidence because of that drive.”
“We loved the recognition she got for the work she and ‘Auntie’ Delly did with the playing shirts and we’re proud to have worn them. We’re looking forward to keeping that commitment going again this season.”
Noffke said the team was looking forward to the finalisation of the WBBL fixtures that will be released on Thursday.
“With restrictions lifting, we’re excited to play a season where we can showcase the team’s skills to as wide an audience as possible,’’ he said. Hinkley’s re-signing comes as Queensland Cricket continues a week of activities celebrating NAIDOC Week, as well as continuing to develop their inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
Queensland Cricket and Brisbane Heat CEO Terry Svenson said the RAP process had proven engaging and educational for all involved.
“We’re grateful for the on-going direction from Queensland Cricket’s First Nations Advisory committee and the assistance from our RAP partners KPMG,’’ he said.
2022-23 WBBL Brisbane Heat Squad
Jess Jonassen (c)
Amelia Kerr (Int)
Nicola Hancock
Mikayla Hinkley
Ellie Johnston
Charli Knott
Georgia Redmayne
Courtney Sippel
Georgia Voll
