Scorchers recruit ready to take on former teammates

Perth Scorchers recruit Jemma Barsby is preparing herself for plenty of banter when she lines up against her former Brisbane Heat teammates at Allan Border Field on Saturday.

Barsby, the daughter of former Queensland player Trevor, was a member of the Heat’s triumphant WBBL|04 squad but has made the move west for the current Rebel WBBL season.

She hasn’t had to wait long to come up against her former teammates – many of whom still play alongside Barsby for Queensland – with the Scorchers part of Brisbane’s WBBL|05 Festival Weekend, and the spinner expects plenty of good-natured chatter.

"It’s slightly different, but nice to be back home for a few days and I can’t wait to get out there," Barsby, a right-arm off-spinner who also has the ability to bowl with her left arm, said.

"It’ll be interesting (playing former teammates), I’ll just try and treat it like a club game.

"It’ll be a really good challenge to play people who know how I bowl and bat, that’s a really good test."

Barsby, 24, said she made the decision to jump ship to the Scorchers to expose herself to a different set up, having played for Queensland for the best part of a decade and for the Heat since WBBL|01.

"I’ve been with Queensland now for nine years, so it’s been a nice change up to get over west, learn a new set up and hopefully develop my skills over there and get a bit more opportunity," she said.

"It’s been great, to have the likes of Meg Lanning and Nicole Bolton and the other internationals in the side and learn off them has been awesome.

"Being over in the west, we’re in our own little bubble away from the hype over there so I’ve really enjoyed it."

The Heat signed a new spinner of their own during the off-season, securing the signature of teenage leg-spin sensation Amelia Kerr.

The New Zealand import made an immediate impact last weekend in her Big Bash debut when she took three wickets in four balls against the Sydney Sixers.

"She’s a quality player and that’s why the Heat got her," Barsby said.

"It’s about working out when she’s going to bowl that wrong’un.

"We’ve looked at some footage of how she bowls so hopefully we can go out and put the pressure back on her early tomorrow."

The AB Field Festival Weekend sees the Heat, Scorchers, Adelaide Strikers and Hobart Hurricanes squads congregate in Brisbane for four matches across two days.

Saturday’s AB Field action will see the Strikers take on the Hurricanes at 9.40am local time (10.40am AEDT) before the Heat take on the Scorchers at 1.10pm local (2.10pm AEDT).

On Sunday, the Scorchers meet the Strikers at 9.40am before the Heat play the Hurricanes at 1.10pm.