Brisbane Heat and Australian player Grace Harris says exodus of stars won’t hold back WBBL campaign, Sixers rivalry goes to new level with Kerr defection

Six of Brisbane Heat’s squad who made the WBBL Final last season have departed, including super star Amelia Kerr to arch rival Sydney Sixers, but Grace Harris is not concerned and backs the talent coming through to get the job done.

The Brisbane Heat believes their depth of young, local talent is set to help them overcome an exodus of players to challenge yet again in WBBL10.

After losing last year’s final, the Heat has farewelled Georgia Voll, Courtney Sippel, Mikayla Hinkley and Ellie Johnston. That’s on top of internationals Amelia Kerr and Mignon du Preez who won’t be pulling on the teal again this season.

However, opening batter Grace Harris believes the squad has what it takes to surge up the ladder once again.

“I guess a measure of success is how many players do get opportunities elsewhere,” Harris said. “We’ve developed our own talent, essentially.

“Internationals come and go. They cancel each other out. It’s the domestic players that win you the comp.

“Throughout the history of the Heat, you can see that domestic players do a lot of heavy lifting throughout the season. Our brand has always been about developing our own talent and we will continue to do that.

“I still have full faith in our domestic players to execute when they need to in the game. We have talent, so we kind of back ourselves to just keep playing our way and when we don’t, we don’t win.”

Voll and Harris will be on opposing sides this season with the youngster one of several players leaving the Heat for WBBL10. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Kerr’s defection to the Sixers, who signed the Kiwi all-rounder on a three-year deal ahead of the draft, was a particularly targeted coup. The 23-year-old is one of the best international players and will pull on the magenta after being a part of New Zealand’s breakthrough World Cup triumph.

It’s a massive change for Kerr after playing 58 games for Brisbane, adding further spice to the Sixers-Heat rivalry which has become one of the most hotly contested in the competition. With Sippel also heading across the border to the Sixers, Harris thinks it will go to another level.

Yet, there is a sense of confidence from the Heat that they only retain the players they want to keep and Harris is excited to see her former teammates get opportunities elsewhere.

Amelia Kerr has been a staple of the Heat side but will be pulling on the magenta this season. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

“Sippy wanted a chance to develop her own character, and good on her, she’s going to get good opportunities down there and if the Sixers back her in as much as the Heat did, I’m sure she’ll go well,” Harris said.

“Melie was always going to be tough to keep and get her up again, and then it’s the same with Georgia Voll (at the Thunder). She wants to be a batting all-rounder and at the Heat she just didn’t strike the ball better than our top six for the past couple of years. So you couldn’t justify having her up there. I hope she takes the opportunities the Thunder give her up the order.

“It’s going to be a pretty good showdown this season against the Sixers but it’s still going to be good fun. I’m sure the girls will show up and we’ve got a pretty good culture, pretty strong group and pretty good direction.”

Harris is one of the competition’s biggest stars and is set to be a powerhouse at the top of the order for the Heat again.

WBBL10 will have a revamped format after being reduced to 10 regular season fixtures per team and attracting even more big names. If Harris had it her way, she’d make even more changes to help bring the crowds back.

Harris is an advocate of more changes to the WBBL. Picture: Mark Brake – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images

“I want people to be a part of it, but I also want them to say how good is that and how fun is cricket that you can chat with your mates and have a couple of drinks,” Harris said.

“Personally, I’d love the surge to be removed and go back to a six-over powerplay. If you’re going to step up and go to international cricket, you don’t have two out in the 18th over.

“Even playing conditions, DRS versus non-DRS games. We’ve played games where there’s been howlers but you don’t have DRS. It’s potentially game-changing and season-changing because if your best player is out in a non-DRS game, you could potentially be winning that game.

“I don’t want to say that we should be like the England Cricket Board but I think The Hundred is a fantastic product. Every team gets the same playing conditions and they play in fantastic stadiums. It’s a good product. As a fan, that’s when I want to sit there and watch it.”

Originally published as Brisbane Heat and Australian player Grace Harris says exodus of stars won’t hold back WBBL campaign, Sixers rivalry goes to new level with Kerr defection