WATCH: Jess Jonassen in WBBL|02 Action
Jonassen, who returned this week from a playing stint with Lancashire Thunder in the English Kia T20 Super League, joins fellow Australian player Beth Mooney on multi-year deals with the Heat.
WBBL|03 marks the first time that clubs can offer more than single-season contracts and the Heat moved quickly to tie up their leading runs-scorer and now their leading wicket-taker last season.
The left-arm spinner claimed 17 dismissals at an economy rate of 5.13 for Brisbane as the Heat made the Finals in just the second year of the competition.
Jonassen welcomed the chance to continue with the Heat despite interest from rival clubs.
“There was a bit of interest from other teams, and that was to be expected in the new climate following the MOU agreement, but I was very keen to continue on with what we have started here,’’ she said.
“It’s good to have the stability that a multi-year deal offers and it certainly helps with planning for the future.”
The Rockhampton product said she was looking forward to working with new Konica Minolta Queensland Fire and WBBL Heat coach Peter McGiffin this season.
“Pete brings plenty of skill and determination to the job and after working with him when he was our assistant coach last season, I’m looking forward to what we can achieve this summer,’’ she said.
Jonassen will now focus on the start of the Queensland Fire’s Women’s National Cricket League campaign and the forthcoming Women’s Ashes series that gets underway in Brisbane on October 22 with an ODI at Allan Border Field.
She and the Fire are in action today in a T20 practice game against the National Performance Squad at Allan Border Field.
McGiffin said the Heat was delighted to have secured the signatures of Queensland’s two current International players.
“JJ and Beth are exceptional talents and give us a great launching pad to build a squad around,’’ he said. “I think Jess can really make a mark on the WBBL this summer and it’s up to us now to ensure we give the team all of the support and encouragement they need.”