Photo Credit: Brisbane Heat
The WBBL Brisbane Heat will welcome a trio of new signings as well as securing one of their rising stars to round out the squad for the upcoming rebel Women’s Big Bash League competition.There are familiar faces amongst the newcomers though, with Queensland Fire squad players Georgia Redmayne and Georgia Voll linking up with the WBBL Heat for the first time.
Australia ‘A’ wicket-keeper Redmayne has previously played in the WBBL with Hobart and Perth but will turn to teal in WBBL|06.
Former Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades and Melbourne Stars seamer Nicola Hancock, also a former Australia ‘A’ representative, will join the two-time champions, adding valuable experience and pace bowling depth to the squad.
Completing the 15-player squad is teenage allrounder Charli Knott, who will suit up for her third season with the club.
Knott, in her final year at Brisbane State High School, will not have far to turn to compare notes on the Heat’s prospects in WBBL|06 with 17-year-old Voll in Year 11 at the same school.
A hard-hitting top order bat and off-spin bowler, Voll made her debut for the Queensland Fire in the Women’s National Cricket League last season after earlier starring at the National Under-18 titles.
Originally from Toowoomba, she claimed the Betty Wilson Medal as player of the U-18 tournament as Queensland finished joint national champions.
She scored 314 runs at an average of 34.9 with a top score of 83 and took 12 wickets at an average of 11.4 including best figures of 4-10. Her WNCL debut saw her nab figures of 2-11 for the Fire in their win over Victoria.
Redmayne, 26, brings a strong cricketing CV to the Heat squad. Currently working as a doctor at Tweed Hospital, she had an impressive series against India ‘A’ last summer, including a classy 113 not out in a one-day clash with the tourists.
She has played 57 WBBL games so far, scoring 934 runs including four half centuries, as well as taking 20 catches and claiming 13 stumpings with the gloves. Originally from northern NSW, she was the 2018 Betty Wilson Young Player of the Year.
Hancock, 24, has played a total of 50 WBBL matches for the Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades and the Melbourne Stars, as well as turning out for Victoria and the ACT in the WNCL.
The right-arm pacer has taken 29 WBBL wickets at an economy rate of 7.41, including a best of 4-22.
WBBL Heat coach Ashley Noffke said the squad contained depth as well as match-winning potential.
“We feel confident we are in a good position to give our best with this group in the coming season,’’ he said.
“It’s great to have two experienced and talented players in Georgia and Nicola coming into the group, and we will look to give them every opportunity to showcase their skills.
“They have both been Australia ‘A’ players and it would be rewarding to assist them to further improve their individual games along the way.”
“We’re very pleased to secure Georgia Voll for the Heat. It was fitting to have Kirby Short present her with her first cap for the Queensland Fire last summer and we all noted how mature she was in handling her debut against Victoria,’’ he said.
“Charli Knott continues to develop and grow as a player and like Georgia, we’re excited about the potential she brings to the squad.”
“We’re working hard on our skills and will be keen to make the most of the opportunities that we can create when the WBBL gets underway,’’ Noffke said.
The WBBL|06 Heat squad is:
Jess Jonassen (c)
Delissa Kimmince
Maddy Green (NZ)
Amelia Kerr (NZ)
Nadine de Klerk (SAfr, NEW)
Georgia Prestwidge
Georgia Redmayne (NEW)
Georgia Voll (NEW)
Nicola Hancock (NEW)
Grace Harris
Laura Harris
Charli Knott
Mikayla Hinkley
Lilly Mills
Courtney Sippel
The WBBL will feature a record number of broadcast matches on Channel 7 and Foxtel, with 23 regular season matches and three finals to be shown.
The remaining 33 games will be streamed live on the CA Live app, cricket.com.au and Kayo Sports.
Name of Author: Brisbane Heat
The Brisbane Heat are an Australian professional cricket team competing in the Big Bash League (BBL), representing both men’s and women’s cricket. Based in Brisbane, Queensland, the Heat succeeded the Queensland Bulls, who played in the former KFC Twenty20 Big Bash. The team wears a teal uniform and plays at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, known as The Gabba.
