Emerald cricketer Bonnie Berry signs WBBL deal with Brisbane Heat

Bonnie Berry has taken a step closer to realising her green and gold dream by signing a contract to play alongside some of the cricket heroes she grew up watching as a young girl in Emerald.

Emerald's Bonnie Berry has been signed by the Brisbane Heat.

Central Queensland’s Bonnie Berry grew up watching Jess Jonassen and Grace Harris playing cricket for the Brisbane Heat.

The Emerald 18-year-old will now have a chance to play alongside them after signing her first full Women’s Big Bash League contract.

She joins fellow emerging regional talent Sianna Ginger and Mikayla Wrigley in the squad for WBBL|14.

Berry was called into the Heat squad as a replacement player last year but has yet to debut for the club.

She was understandably thrilled about securing the deal, which came several months after she toured Sri Lanka with the Australian under-19 team.

“Obviously, last season was a great opportunity to come in as Grace’s replacement player, but so excited for this season to get a full contract and be a part of the team,” Berry said.

Emerald's Bonnie Berry has been signed by the Brisbane Heat for the upcoming WBBL season.

It’s an exciting career development for the right-arm quick who started playing cricket at eight with the Emerald Brothers boys team in the Central Highlands under-11 competition.

Her mother, Carmel, had to sign a waiver to allow her to play at that age.

Berry said she enjoyed the challenge of playing against the boys, and selectors were quick to identify her talent.

Representative honours followed and at just 15, she played for the Queensland Country women’s team at the national championships.

Berry now plays first grade for the Sunshine Coast Scorchers and was a Queensland Fire squad member last season.

Bonnie at age 15 when she was selected for Queensland Country.

Though still a teenager, Berry would love to be a role model for aspiring cricketers, just as Rockhampton’s highly decorated star Jonassen was for her.

“It’s something I’m very aware of. I’d like to try and grow cricket in regional Queensland and show young kids from regional areas that you can come and play for the Brisbane Heat,” she said.

There are some similarities between Berry’s cricketing journey and that of Jonassen, who also started playing in the boys ranks.

Unquestionably one of the game’s most exciting prospects, she would no doubt like to keep following in those celebrated footsteps, all the way to the green and gold.

Brisbane Heat skipper Jess Jonassen. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

All-rounder Jonassen, who captains the Heat, said she was excited to have the future of Queensland Cricket on hand for this season’s WBBL

“It’s awesome to have them in the squad,’’ she said of Berry, Ginger and Wrigley.

“We are all about opportunity in the Heat, and having three such talented players choosing to take that chance with us bodes well for the future.

“Having watched Sianna, Bonnie and Mikayla emerge, it is rewarding to see how they have come through the pathways from regional centres.

“I’ve no doubt they will do well if they are called on for the Heat this summer.”

Originally published as Emerald cricketer Bonnie Berry signs WBBL deal with Brisbane Heat