Photo Credit: Brisbane Heat
Rising English leg-spinner Sarah Glenn will deliver a first-up boost for the WBBL Brisbane Heat in the early rounds of the Weber Women’s Big Bash League as the club completes its playing roster with young gun Lucy Hamilton returning for 2023-24.
Glenn, 24, is the ICC’s fifth ranked women’s T20 International bowler and has signed as an International Replacement Player to cover for New Zealand allrounder Amelia Kerr, who will miss the early matches for the Heat.
Bundaberg pace bowler Hamilton will return for her second WBBL season, with the 17-year-old left-armer signing on for the final spot on the 15-player squad roster.
Hamilton, an Australian Under-19 representative last season, made her Heat debut in WBBL|08 last year.
Glenn claimed 11 wickets for the London Spirit in the recent women’s Hundred series in the UK where she was coached by Heat head coach Ashley Noffke, who was quick to take advantage of that knowledge when Kerr advised she would be a late starter in the competition.
“Sarah was very impressive during the Ashes despite missing some games with illness, and then England’s other international games in the season, as well as in The Hundred, so we’re very pleased she is available for us while Melie is having a short break,” Noffke said.
“She’s a great competitor and very skillful on the field, and she is also someone who works really well within the team environment which is very important when you are bringing a squad together,’’ he said.
Glenn, who also represented England in hockey at youth level, will join experienced South African recruit Mignon du Preez and recent English T20 debutant Bess Heath as the Heat’s international players for the opening games.
It will be her second stint in the WBBL, playing for the Perth Scorchers in 2020–21, claiming 17 wickets with an economy rate of 6.25, ending the tournament as her side’s leading wicket-taker.
Noffke said the club was in a fortunate position to secure Hamilton, who is in Year 11 at Shalom College in Bundaberg.
“Lucy is developing beautifully as a player and also demonstrating her wonderful qualities as a person as she completes high school,’’ he said.
“We’re excited to have her with us again at the Heat and feel very confident in what she brings to the group.”
WBBL|09 – Brisbane Heat Squad: Lucy Hamilton, 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). *International Replacement Player: Sarah Glenn (England).
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.
