Heat add serious Star quality for WBBL

The WBBL Brisbane Heat will have its own ‘star’ quality to call on for the inaugural Women’s Big Bash League this summer.

Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars allrounders Jessica Jonassen and Grace Harris will add style and power to the Brisbane Heat squad following their announcement as the latest T20 recruits for the WBBL club.

Image Id: ~/media/F87B1FEFD5964619AE50083B8C74DFE1

Harris will be one of the WBBL's biggest hitters // Getty Images

And they will be backed by Southern Stars contracted wicketkeeper Beth Mooney, Australian Under-23 Shooting Stars squad member Jemma Barsby, former Australian captain Jodie Fields and their Konica Minolta Queensland Fire teammate Courtney Hill in the WBBL Heat squad to prepare for the series starting in December.

Quick Single: Strikers lure Nitschke out of retirement

Today’s announcement coincides with the launch of a new girls-only pathway competition, the Heat Girls Cricket League, which will run at Brisbane Premier clubs during October and November under lights and on turf.

Jonassen, originally from Rockhampton, made an all-star Test debut for Australia during the recent Ashes series in England.

The 22-year-old was player of the match in her maiden Test, falling one run short of what would have been a magical century on debut.

Harris, 21, made a similar impression, earning Player-of-the-Series honours from her initial three T20 International matches against Ireland and then going on to help Australia defeat England in the T20I series that determined the winner of the 2015 Women’s Ashes series.

Quick Single: Sydney Thunder snap up Stars spinner

Jonassen, a classy left-hand bat and left arm spinner, and Harris, a power hitting batter and off-spinner, bring skill and strength to the WBBL Heat squad.

Jonassen was the Women’s National Cricket League Player of the Year last season while Harris has led the field in the number of sixes hit during the past two seasons of the WT20.

She has clouted 16 sixes in two seasons and along with Southern Stars captain Meg Lanning, is rated one of the longest hitters in the women’s game.

“It’s going to be great fun,” Harris said. “The girls have been talking about it a lot and we are all keen to be a part of something so exciting for the sport.”

Left-arm spinner Barsby and wicketkeeper Beth Mooney have both been involved in the national set-up recently, with Hervey Bay product Mooney playing the winter in England with Yorkshire and joining the Southern Stars squad for the T20I series against Ireland and England.

Barsby was the Queensland Fire’s leading wicket-taker and second overall in the WT20 last year, snaring 19 scalps at 13.15.

Fields, who stood down as national captain in 2014 after leading Australia to World One Day and T20 Cup glory, has set her sights on returning from off-season shoulder surgery in time for the new competition.

Sunshine Coast fast bowler Courtney Hill rounds out the initial contract list, with the Heat able to sign another four players by December.

The WBBL will feature 59 matches to be played in 51 days over the summer holidays, with eight of the games, including the final on January 24, broadcast live and free on Network Ten's ONE.

The creation of the WBBL Heat has generated a new player pathway competition for girls in Brisbane, with the Heat Girls Cricket League launching next month.

The competition for girls aged 12-17 will be played under lights at Premier cricket clubs with both hard and soft balls across October and November, with the name of the game to get girls having fun playing cricket with their friends.

Toombul, Sandgate-Redcliffe, Valley and Western Suburbs will all host the new League which will run during the fourth term of school.

12-14 Year Aged Group - soft ball format over 16 overs.

Toombul Cricket Club - Monday nights 5-7pm, Oct 12 - Nov 16.

Sandgate-Redcliffe District CC - Tuesday nights 5-7pm, Oct 13 - Nov 17.

Valley District CC - Wednesday nights 5-7pm, Oct 14 - Nov 18.

Western Suburbs District CC - Thursday nights 5-7pm, Oct 15 - Nov 19.

A hard-ball competition will also run on turf wickets on Sunday mornings during the same time frame.

12-14 & 15-17 Year Aged Groups - hard ball format over 16 & 20 overs.

Premier Brisbane cricket grounds on turf wickets - 8:30-11:30am Sunday mornings, Oct 11 - Nov 19.

2015-16 WBBL Brisbane Heat Squad: Jessica Jonassen Grace Harris, Beth Mooney, Courtney Hill, Jodie Fields, Jemma Barsby, Holly Ferling, Delissa Kimmince, Kate Cross (International), Lauren Winfield (International). Coach: Andy Richards.

WBBL Brisbane Heat Home Games

Friday 18 December v Melbourne Renegades, Allan Border Field

Saturday 19 December v Melbourne Renegades, Gabba*(double header with BBL)

Sunday 20 December v Adelaide Strikers, Gabba

Sunday 20 December v Sydney Thunder, Gabba