In a significant boost for Brisbane Heat, leading players Georgia Hancock and Nadine de Klerk have signed new two-year contracts, securing their presence in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) until the end of the 2025 season.
De Klerk’s first season in the WBBL for Brisbane Heat was in the 2020-21 season, which was the sixth WBBL season. She played nine matches in her initial season. The Brisbane side is the second club to confirm an international signing ahead of the overseas player draft, following the Sydney Sixers’ shock signing of New Zealand star Amelia Kerr, who had been one of the Heat’s mainstays for five seasons.
In two seasons for Brisbane Heat, the Proteas all-rounder played over 18 matches, picking up seven wickets and scoring 148 runs in 13 innings. The year 2023 was phenomenal for the Proteas all-rounder, specifically in the ODIs. She was the only player from South Africa to make it into the ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year for 2023. The right-hand batter scored 181 runs at an average of 45 and scalped 16 wickets. She also struck an unbeaten 106 recently in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. She has transformed herself into a clutch player who’s also currently part of South Africa’s all-format tour against India.
The Brisbane Heat skipper was delighted to welcome the Proteas all-rounder to the team. “She’s a triple threat as a player – her bowling, especially in the PowerPlay and Power Surge overs, is getting better and better, she has developed as a batting finisher, and she is excellent in the field,” Jonassen said.
On the other hand, Brisbane has secured the Australian quick Nicola Hancock until WBBL 11. Hancock made an impactful debut in the WBBL during the 2016-17 season with the Melbourne Stars. She joined the Heat in the 2020-21 season and was one of the standout performers for the team during that season, finishing third on the leading wicket-takers list. Hancock also had an exceptional season in her domestic stint with the Victoria side in the Women’s National Cricket League.
Hancock boasts an impressive record of over 100 matches in the Women’s Big Bash League, having featured prominently in 107 appearances. She is on the brink of claiming her 100th WBBL wicket, currently representing Sunrisers in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, where she played a pivotal role in their recent victory over Western Storm, ending with figures of 3 for 15 on her Sunrisers debut.
Incoming Heat coach Mark Sorell emphasized that retaining Hancock and adding de Klerk reinforces key roles within the team for the upcoming seasons, ensuring stability and competitive edge as Brisbane Heat prepares for future WBBL campaigns.
