The Brisbane Heat have made a strategic move to strengthen their squad by signing up-and-coming stars Grace Parsons and Lucy Hamilton on two-year deals. The new contracts will keep both players with the Heat through to the 2026 season of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL).
Grace Parsons, 20, is a right-arm leg break bowler from Lismore, New South Wales. Parsons made her debut for Queensland in the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) on March 6, 2022, against South Australia, where she impressed with figures of 4/33 from 7 overs. During her debut season, Parsons played six matches, taking 6 wickets. In the 2022–23 season, she emerged as Queensland’s second-leading wicket-taker with 15 scalps, at an average of 20.66, including a notable 4/40 against South Australia. Although she was part of the Brisbane Heat squad in the WBBL, she did not feature in a match. Her promising performances have earned her a spot on the Australia ‘A’ squad for upcoming matches against India ‘A’.
Lucy Hamilton, 18, a left-arm fast bowler from Bundaberg, has shown significant potential early in her career. She made her debut for Queensland on March 15, 2022, at the age of 15, becoming the second youngest debutant in the team’s history. Hamilton took two wickets on her debut against Western Australia. In the same season, she played one additional match but did not secure a wicket. In the 2022–23 WBBL season, she featured in two matches for the Brisbane Heat but did not take a wicket. Despite this, her performances in the Australian Under-19 team, including a successful tour of Sri Lanka, highlight her potential.
New Brisbane Heat coach Mark Sorell, a former Australian women’s coach, expressed enthusiasm about the signings. “Grace and Lucy bring a dynamic energy and specific skill sets that enhance our squad,” Sorell said. “Their development into confident players is promising for the Heat and potentially for the Australian team in the future.”
Sorell also reflected on the broader horizon, hinting at the possibility of cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympics. “Leg-spinners and left-arm quicks are certainly the types of players you would like to have in your squads, so that would be in the back of my mind as we get closer to such an event taking place,” he added.
With the addition of Parsons and Hamilton, the Heat have filled 13 of their 15 roster spots ahead of the international player draft on September 1. Sorell indicated that the club is well-prepared, having identified the skills they need for the remaining positions. The upcoming draft will see the Heat strategically selecting international talent to complete their squad.
The Heat’s current roster includes notable names such as South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk, who was signed to a multi-year deal earlier this year. The team is also set to make further additions through the draft, where they hold various picks across different player bands.
Brisbane Heat Squad (to date):
Bonnie Berry, Nadine de Klerk (Int), Sianna Ginger, Lucy Hamilton, Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Laura Harris, Ellie Johnston, Jess Jonassen, Charli Knott, Grace Parsons, Georgia Redmayne, Mikayla Wrigley
As the new WBBL season approaches, the Heat’s investment in young talent like Parsons and Hamilton reflects a strategic commitment to building a competitive and dynamic team.
