TRIO SIGN ON FOR WBBL | Heat Boosts Squad

With tickets going on sale today through Ticketek for the WBBL Heat home games, the recruitment of Bonnie Berry and Lucy Bourke, 19, and Lily Bassingthwaighte, 18, will bolster the all-round playing depth of the squad.

Bourke is a left-handed batter, Berry a right-arm pace bowler and Bassingthwaighte a right-pace bowler and right-handed batter.

Both Berry and Bassingthwaighte have represented the Australian U-19 squad in the past two seasons, with Bassingthwaighte playing in the ICC Women’s U-19 World Cup earlier this year.

Berry, from Anakie outside of Emerald in Central Queensland, was signed for the Heat last season before she was sidelined with a back stress fracture but is on track for the summer and will make her comeback for new club Valley in the KFC T20 Max competition next week.

Bourke, originally from Warwick, played six matches in the inaugural T20 Spring Challenge last year in the Heat colours and went on to make her debut for the Queensland Fire in the Women’s National Cricket League after the completion of the WBBL.

Bassingthwaighte, who graduated from high school at All Hallows last year, made her Queensland debut last season in the WNCL after being a Local Replacement Player for the Heat.

Heat coach Mark Sorell said signing the trio had been a priority for the club.

“They are all very coachable as well as being great athletes and outstanding talents,’’ he said.

“We’re thrilled at the prospect of Bonnie being available for the season. She has returned from injury fitter and stronger and we’re delighted to add another young quick to the group.

“Lucy gives us another left-handed batting option in our top order, and it helps that she is also an outstanding fielder.

“Likewise, Lily Bassingthwaighte is a player to watch. While she will most likely provide bowling depth in the first instance this season, she is a genuine allrounder and a very exciting prospect for Australian Cricket,’’ Sorell said.

The Heat currently has 14 players signed, with one spot remaining to be filled.

The final signing will take place after the T20 Spring Challenge in October that will function as a lead-in competition for the WBBL.

The Heat squad for the Spring Challenge will be sourced from the existing WBBL squad and from performances in next month’s KFC T20 MAX competition.

Brisbane lost last season’s Final to the Renegades at the MCG and their year-long wait for redress will end with the return clash serving as the very first game of WBBL|11.

The Heat will launch the WBBL when they host the defending champions at Allan Border Field on Sunday 9 November.

Brisbane’s clash with the Renegades will be the first of a double-header at Allan Border Field that day, with the Sydney Thunder taking on Hobart Hurricanes in the second match.

As well as the Renegades, the Heat will host Perth Scorchers, the Thunder and the Melbourne Stars at their home ground at Albion between 9 November and 6 December.

They will also play a ‘neutral’ home game against the Adelaide Strikers in a double-header at North Sydney Oval on 30 November.

The Heat won six games in a row to make the Grand Final last season, the seventh season in a row the club has qualified for Finals.

WBBL Brisbane Heat squad for WBBL|11 (to date):

Jess Jonassen, Lily Bassingthwaighte, Bonnie Berry, Lucy Bourke, Nadine de Klerk (South Africa), Chinelle Henry (West Indies), Sianna Ginger, Lucy Hamilton, Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Charli Knott, Grace Parsons, Georgia Redmayne, Jemimah Rodrigues (India).