Photo Credit: ICC
The WBBL Brisbane Heat will welcome of the most experienced players to grace the Weber Women’s Big Bash League with former South African captain Mignon du Preez joining the club for the first time.
The 34-year-old right hander opted to bypass the inaugural WBBL International player draft last weekend and link with the Heat as a direct nomination for WBBL|09.
A creative stroke-maker, du Preez has played 93 WBBL games across six seasons with the Melbourne Stars and Hobart Hurricanes, scoring 2292 runs at a strike rate of 114.
As South African captain, she led the Proteas in 46 ODIs, 50 T20Is and a Test match.
At international level, du Preez scored 1805 runs in 114 T20I appearances, amassed 3760 runs in 154 One Day Internationals and produced a century in her only Test match.
She played in four ICC Women’s World Cup campaigns, including last year’s tournament in India, and announced her retirement from international cricket in December.
Star New Zealand allrounder Amelia Kerr and English batter Bess Heath are the Heat’s other overseas players for the WBBL that gets underway next month.
Brisbane Heat head coach Ashley Noffke expressed his delight at securing the signature of du Preez.
“Minnie is a proven match-winner with the bat, especially in Australian conditions; she is a calm and composed leader and a great person, so naturally we are thrilled to have her joining the Heat for the summer,’’ he said.
“She’s playing well in the Caribbean Premier League at the moment, and we’re looking forward to her coming over next month to join the preparations for the WBBL. The squad is coming together well and we’re looking forward to the games,’’ Noffke said.
Brisbane has one spot left to complete its 15-player squad.
WBBL|09: Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Laura Harris, Mikayla Hinkley, Ellie Johnston, Jess Jonassen, Charli Knott, Grace Parsons, Georgia Redmayne, Courtney Sippel, Georgia Voll. Internationals: Amelia Kerr (NZ), Bess Heath (England), Mignon du Preez (South Africa).
Following a pre-sale period, all public tickets are now on sale for Heat matches at the Gabba, Allan Border Field and Great Barrier Reef in Mackay.
Early-bird pricing is in place until 14 September for WBBL and 24 October for KFC BBL games.
Entry level prices remain at just $8 for kids and $22 for adults in the BBL while WBBL pricing has $5 for kids and $10 for adults.
The Heat will open their WBBL season on 20 October against the Melbourne Renegades at CitiPower Centre in Melbourne and play their first home game of the competition on Friday 27 October at Allan Border Field against the Melbourne Stars.
All membership, corporate and public ticket information is available at https://www.brisbaneheat.com.au/tickets
