Under the leadership of Jess Jonassen, the Brisbane Heat have managed to exceed expectations despite encountering significant player losses during the pre-season transfer period. Key players such as Georgia Voll departed for the Sydney Thunder, while Melie Kerr and Courtney Sippel joined the Sydney Sixers, and Mikayla Hinkley moved to the Scorchers.
Additionally, the team has been without seasoned South African batswoman Mignon du Preez, who is taking time off after the birth of her twin daughters. Former coach Ashley Noffke has also relocated to New Zealand to start a new chapter with Otago.
Nevertheless, the team’s depth actually shone through as they seized the chances presented to them. The Heat, under Jonassen’s captaincy, finished second in the points table with 14 points garnered from 10 matches, securing 7 victories, and advancing directly to the Challenger round.
Currently, Grace Harris leads the Heat in scoring, amassing 270 runs at a strike rate of 135 and an average of 30 across 10 matches. Her performance includes one half-century, highlighted by a top score of 75 from 57 balls against the Hobart Hurricanes on November 2, 2024.
As for her own performance, skipper Jess Jonassen has also excelled, taking 14 wickets at an economy rate of 7 across 10 matches. In addition to her bowling prowess, she has contributed 174 runs at a strike rate of 124.28 and an average of 34.80 in 9 innings. Beyond her individual achievements, her leadership has been pivotal in guiding the team to their seventh consecutive finals.
“I think the only people that were concerned were those from outside of these walls. I feel like we’ve proved a few of the doubters wrong, but we’re by no means done proving that point,” Jonassen stated regarding their underdog status and their commendable performance following notable team changes before the season’s commencement.
Before the landmark 10th edition of the WBBL, the Brisbane Heat secured the talents of Nadine de Klerk, Shikha Pandey, and Jemimah Rodrigues in the overseas draft. Veteran all-rounder Shikha Pandey, one of their Indian signings alongside Rodrigues, is now the second-highest wicket-taker for the team, having claimed 12 wickets at an average of 19.50 and an impressive economy rate of 6.68.
Speaking on Shikha Pandey’s influence, Jonassen noted, “Having the international class of someone like Shikha Pandey around, who can talk fast bowling (with local players), talk tactics, talk plans, I think that’s something that’s really added a lot of value to our pace bowling attack, particularly, that I feel like a lot of those girls have really thrived upon.”
Jonassen also commended Shikha, referring to her as ‘one of the biggest competitors,’ and elaborated, “Shikha adds a level of calm, but equally passion as well. She’s one of the biggest competitors that you’ll ever come across and she’s a real student of the game as well. She’s still always looking to try and learn and improve her game, and of those around her as well.”
Young pace-bowling talent Lucy Hamilton, only 18, has been making waves in the Heat’s bowling line-up, ranking as the third-highest wicket-taker for the team with 10 wickets in five innings at a remarkable average of 7.70 and an economy rate of 4.81. Her standout performance included a five-wicket haul against the Melbourne Stars, where she achieved figures of 4-1-8-5 on November 17, 2024, at Drummoyne Oval in Sydney.
Another promising player, 21-year-old leg-spinner Grace Parsons, ranks fifth on the team for wickets taken, with 7 at an economy of 7.17 from 9 innings.
These emerging talents, along with established players such as Georgia Redmayne and the Harris sisters—Grace and Laura—Charli Knott, and skipper Jess Jonassen, will be vital in the Brisbane Heat’s upcoming Challenger match against the Sydney Thunder, led by Phoebe Litchfield. This match is set to take place at Allan Border Field in Brisbane on November 29, 2024, starting at 1:45 PM IST. The victorious team will secure a place in the title match against the Melbourne Renegades on December 1, 2024.
Image Source: Jess Jonassen @ Instagram
