THE ninth Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) season us almost upon us, with the competition set to kick off next week.

In the lead up to the opening day, we here at Rookie Me Central are going to count down by previewing each of the teams set to be contesting the tournament this season.

Next up, it is the Brisbane Heat.

The Heat did progress forward from WBBL07 to WBBL08, but they will still be hungry for more heading into this season. After finishing fourth in WBBL07, the finished one spot higher in WBBL08, but that is still short of a spot in the big dance, so the Heat will be keen to keep progressing up the ladder.

Looking ahead to this season, and all of the changes to Brisbane’s squad from last year surround their internationals.

Amelia Kerr is still there, but she is the only international that remains from last season.

Pooja Vastrakar has not returned to the competition, while Danni Wyatt got picked up by the Scorchers in the draft but then subsequently withdrew from the tournament.

In their place comes a pair of exciting batters.

South African Mignon du Preez has been plying her trade for the past few years in Hobart after having previously played for the Stars, while Bess Heath was a bit of a surprise revelation last season. The Englishwoman originally came into the Stars as a late replacement, but lit the competition on fire in the back end of last season.

Of the local faces coming back again this year, they do not get much bigger for the Heat than Jess Jonassen and Grace Harris. The national team pair are crucial with bat and ball respectively, while also providing plenty of leadership experience to a largely very young Heat line up.

Brisbane Heat WBBL09 Squad

Mignon Du Preez, Lucy Hamilton, Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Laura Harris, Bess Heath, Mikayla Hinkley, Jess Jonassen, Ellie Johnston, Amelia Kerr, Charli Knott, Grace Parsons, Georgia Redmayne, Courtney Sippel, Georgia Voll