WBBL finals weekend: Brisbane Heat’s sister act leading power shift from Sydney sides
With both Sydney teams already on the beach, Brisbane Heat are gunning for back-to-back WBBL titles this weekend. If they do, it will be in large part thanks the contributions of Grace and Laura Harris.
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They are the two sisters that tore down a dynasty and took great delight in doing it.
Sydney had a monopoly on the WBBL and women’s cricket in general, until Brisbane Heat super siblings Grace and Laura Harris rewrote the record books.
Last season, Brisbane knocked the inaugural WBBL champions Sydney Thunder out in the semi-finals before upsetting overwhelming favourites and two-time winners the Sydney Sixers to become the first non-NSW team to claim the title.
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This summer, both Sydney teams are already on Mad Monday and the Heat take on the Melbourne Renegades on Saturday for the chance to go back-to-back in the WBBL final and create a new reign of power north of the border.
For the past decade the imposing presence of Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy in NSW – and Sixers – colours has intimidated opponents, but the Heat’s Harris sisters have proclaimed the magenta aura is no more.
The Thunder, and more specifically the all-conquering Sixers, are yesterday’s news.
“In previous years I would have definitely said yes (there was an aura about the Sixers),” said Laura Harris.
“But this was probably the first year where we saw one or two injuries in their squad and then obviously them having to blood young players, which was a good eye opener for them. A bit of a welcome to what Big Bash and senior cricket is like.
“It’s probably turned back on them to try and beat us now.
“It probably took us a little while to get out of the team, the fact there was a bit of a stigma around playing them.
“I think we can honestly say we’re not sad about not seeing a Sydney team in the finals.”
Younger sister Grace, 26, agrees.
“We’re pretty happy about it actually.”
The Harris sisters have been the real personality players of the WBBL this year – mic’d up often on Channel 7’s coverage and bringing a profile to the sport outside NSW.
Grace Harris is a childhood friend of former Heat player and tennis No. 1 Ash Barty and the pair exchange texts regularly.
Last season, the Heat were the surprise package no one expected to go all the way.
This year the hunters have become the hunted, but the Harris girls are having more fun now expectations are higher.
“Last year there was no perceived pressure because we were coming up against a loaded Sixers side and everyone backed us out. And then this season, I called it from the start, we were going to go back-to-back!” said Grace with an element of tongue in cheek.
“I think we’ve just had even more fun this year compared to last year. Last year it was a surprise packet. You show up and hope for the best. But this year it seems now that everyone has a game plan and we can identify where we have gone wrong a lot quicker in games and we’re turning out more consistent performances.
“We’re a bit older and even the finals experience we had last year, I’m already feeling more settled throughout this week than I was last year in the same week.”
Originally published as WBBL finals weekend: Brisbane Heat’s sister act leading power shift from Sydney sides