The Brisbane Heat WBBL team were the centrepiece of the new women’s T20 competition back in 2015, involved in the first ever WBBL|01 fixture against the Melbourne Stars at Junction Oval.
Ash Barty in Teal | Our First WBBL Side
In an attempt to further heighten the profile and professionalism of elite-level female cricket, Cricket Australia announced in July 2015 the launch of the WBBL competition to run in line with the already existing Big Bash League.
The competition, which started six months later in December, posed a new era for the Brisbane Heat where the side featured in the first-ever WBBL|01 fixture against a star-studded Melbourne Stars lineup at Junction Oval.
Earlier that year, the Heat announced 19-year-old quick Holly Ferling as the franchise’s first player signing, joining now superstars Grace Harris and Jess Jonassen as well as 2021 Wimbledon champion Ash Barty who played a starring role in WBBL|01 after seeking a new challenge while on a hiatus from tennis.
At the time, Ferling was a pace bowler for the Queensland Fire and had played for Australia in the 2013 World Cup and 2014 T20 World Cup.
Brisbane Heat opening batter Grace Harris who scored both the first and fastest WBBL century and highest ever WBBL score reflects on the opening WBBL|01 fixture and how the development of the competition has turned women’s cricketers from part timers to full time professionals.
“We were all excited and buzzing for this new T20 competition,” Harris said.
“I remember the kit being absolutely horrific, we got it two days before we went (to Junction Oval), maybe the pants arrived when we were in the change rooms.”
Filled with fresh faces and plenty of optimism, 1500 fans packed Junction Oval, the Brisbane Heat bowling first in the WBBL|01 opener.
Former Australian and Melbourne Stars captain Meg Lanning put the Brisbane Heat to the sword early, smashing 90 off just 58 balls guiding the Stars to a commanding 7/156 off their 20 overs.
Inaugural captain of the Brisbane Heat Delissa Kimmince was the Heat’s best with the ball, taking 3/25 off her four overs.
In reply, it was Harris, who struck nine boundaries on her way to 42 off 21 balls and Ash Barty who led the chase.
The former Wimbledon Junior champion who turned to cricket only a few months before the season commenced scored a rather unorthodox 39 off 27 balls which included the only six of the Heat’s innings.
Despite some lower order resistance, the Brisbane Heat fell 20 runs short in the WBBL|01 opener (10/136) but inevitably kickstarted a new generation for women’s cricket in Australia.
“To see the difference from then (2015) to now is quite significant,” Harris said.
The inaugural season was typically dominated by bowlers, with the run rate sitting at 6.29 across the competition.
After replacing the Australian Women’s Twenty20 Cup at the end of the 2014/15 season, the WBBL competition is now the greatest franchise cricket competition in the world for women’s cricket, attracting the best local and overseas talent.
Cricket Australia unveiled that WBBL|10 will be a reduced 10 game, home and away season which will include 43 games across a 36 day schedule.
Further emphasising the development of the WBBL, the inaugural season initially had only 8 of the 59 games on free to air while the WBBL|10 instalment will boast 23 of the 43 games (including finals) on the Seven Network and 7Plus with every game on Foxtel and Kayo Sports.
“The professionalism in the game, the fact you don’t roll in from a full time Friday work shift anymore and then into a Saturday morning game into another T20 game in the afternoon.
“You literally had lunch, rolled back out there and played another T20 game.”
“I think it's fantastic that Cricket Australia has invested in the WBBL for 10 seasons and we’re only just getting better as a competition,” Harris said.
WBBL and BBL tickets for the Heat are on sale now through Ticketek and at https://www.brisbaneheat.com.au/tickets
Fans who purchase a ticket between October 17–26 can score a limited-edition WBBL player badge. Badges can be collected at Gate 2 of the Gabba during Gabba Smash or at the ticket marquee at Allan Border Field.
For the first time, the WBBL Heat will play a stand-alone match at the Gabba, taking on the Adelaide Strikers on Saturday 9 November, as well as three matches under lights at Allan Border Field.
WBBL|10 Brisbane Heat squad: Bonnie Berry, Nadine de Klerk (South Africa), Sianna Ginger, Lucy Hamilton, Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Laura Harris, Jess Jonassen, Charli Knott, Shikha Pandey (India), Grace Parsons, Georgia Redmayne, Jemimah Rodrigues (India), Mikayla Wrigley