Photo Credit: Brisbane Heat
The Brisbane Heat will open the Weber Women’s Big Bash League next week with arguably the best ‘Sister Act’ in the game.
New Zealand pace bowler Jess Kerr will join younger sister Amelia in the WBBL Heat squad as a replacement international player, with English batter Danni Wyatt and Indian allrounder Pooja Vastrakar having a delayed start to their T20 campaigns due to overseas commitments.
The Kerr siblings will link with the dynamic Harris sisters, Grace and Laura, to provide a strong family environment for the Heat for their opening three matches in Mackay next week.
Jess and Amelia will link with the Heat squad in Mackay after completing their playing commitments in the limited over series in the West Indies where the White Ferns won a Super Over thriller on Wednesday.
Jess (2-13 from four) and Amelia (49) played leading roles in the game being tied at the end of the regular 20 overs before Sophie Devine clinched the victory for NZ.
While Amelia is returning to the Heat squad after missing last season while taking a break from the game, Jess will have her first taste of the WBBL.
The 24-year-old has played 22 One Day Internationals and 16 T20 Internationals for the White Ferns since being called up from Wellington in 2020 to make her debut in each format.
She will play with the Heat until Wyatt and Vastrakar become available, with the international duo set to join the squad following the Mackay series of matches.
The Heat has also secured highly promising teenager left-arm pace bowler Lucy Hamilton as a Local Replacement Player for the WBBL.
She replaces ACT pace bowler Zoe Cooke who will be sidelined for the tournament due to a back injury.
Hamilton, 16, made her WNCL debut for Queensland last season, becoming the youngest woman to take a wicket for the Fire in the WNCL.
The Bundaberg product plays for the Sunshine Coast Scorchers in the Katherine Raymont Shield competition and was signed to a full Queensland contract for this season.
Heat coach Ashley Noffke welcomed the duo’s inclusion.
“Jess is a proven international performer and great person to boot,’’ he said. “She provides really good balance to our attack and will enjoy the chance to play alongside her sister in the WBBL”
“She’s no stranger to the Heat having been around the club in the past with her family when Melie has played with us, and we’re excited to have her bring her determination and skills to our group.”
“It’s very unfortunate for Zoe that she will miss the tournament and we wish her a speedy recovery. Lucy has been around the group a bit now for the past 12 months and so this is a great opportunity for her to continue her development.”
“She’s learning a lot about her game and we’re very pleased with how she is continuing to grow into her role as a left-arm quick.”
The Heat will take a 14-player squad to Mackay next Tuesday to prepare for the season opener on Thursday night against the Sydney Sixers at Great Barrier Reef Arena.
Heat memberships and public tickets are on sale now through Ticketek for the BBL and WBBL this summer.
2022-23 WBBL|08 Brisbane Heat Squad
Jess Jonassen (c)
Amelia Kerr (NZ)
Pooja Vastrakar (India)
Danni Wyatt (Eng)
Jess Kerr (NZ) #
Lucy Hamilton *
Nicola Hancock
Grace Harris
Laura Harris
Mikayla Hinkley
Ellie Johnston
Charli Knott
Grace Parsons (new)
Georgia Redmayne
Courtney Sippel
Georgia Voll
# Replacement International
* Local Replacement Player (for Zoe Cooke – inj)
All details can be found at brisbaneheat.com.au.
Tickets are on sale now through Ticketek
