Danni Wyatt will wear teal as she makes a much-anticipated return to the Big Bash this summer, after signing with the Brisbane Heat
Heat sign star England opener to complete squad
Brisbane Heat have added international firepower to their line-up for Weber WBBL|08, signing England star Danni Wyatt.
The addition of opener Wyatt, who returns to the WBBL for the first time since playing for the Melbourne Renegades in WBBL|05, completes the Heat's roster for the upcoming season.
She joins New Zealand leg-spinner Amelia Kerr and India allrounder Pooja Vastrakar to round out of strong trio of internationals, who join Australian Commonwealth Games gold medallists Jess Jonassen and Grace Harris on the Brisbane list.
"Danni is the complete package when it comes to accentuating the skills and strength of our squad," Heat coach Ashley Noffke said.
"She's been successful the world over, excelling with different teams and in different conditions and we're so excited to have her joining the Heat.
"She will complement the list that we have put together beautifully … (she) is skilful with her shot selection and smart with her game management and has the bonus of having enjoyed success in the WBBL previously when she was with the Renegades."
Wyatt's arrival could prompt a change to the Heat top-order; last season Grace Harris and Georgia Redmayne opened the batting but the addition of the England right-hander could see one of the Australians shuffle down the order.
The 31-year-old has played 132 T20Is and has scored six T20 hundreds in her career, including international tons against India and Australia, and recently hammered a 34-ball 65 for Southern Brave in The Hundred.
"I was fortunate to have a good time and enjoy my cricket previously in the WBBL, so it was great to field a call from the Heat about whether I was keen to come back to Australia," Wyatt said.
"One of my last games in the WBBL was against the Heat (in 2019) when we chased down a big score to win to put us in with the chance to make the finals.
"Having played a lot against Jess Jonassen and Amelia Kerr at international level over the past few seasons, including the Commonwealth Games just recently, I'm keen to catch up and enjoy what the season has to offer with the Heat."
The Heat, who finished inside the top four last season before being defeated by Adelaide Strikers in the Eliminator, have maintained a relatively stable squad.
While they have a new-look international cohort, with Kerr returning after taking a break from cricket during WBBL|07, and Wyatt and Vastrakar joining the club for the first time, replacing last season's trio of Poonam Yadav, Nadine de Klerk and Anneke Bosch, there has been just one change to their local contingent.
Teenage leg-spinner Grace Parsons has signed her first WBBL deal, while Georgia Prestwidge will depart the club, with her next move yet to be confirmed.
The Heat will kick off the WBBL season against Sydney Sixers on October 13 at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay.
Brisbane Heat squad: Jess Jonassen (c), Amelia Kerr (NZ), Pooja Vastrakar (Ind), Danni Wyatt (Eng), Zoe Cooke, Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Laura Harris, Mikayla Hinkley, Ellie Johnston, Charli Knott, Grace Parsons (new), Georgia Redmayne, Courtney Sippel, Georgia Voll
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