Mikayla Hinkley and Courtney Sippel sign with Brisbane Heat

Mikayla Hinkley and Courtney Sippel have been added to the Brisbane Heat squad for the first ever standalone edition of the Women’s Big Bash League. They will join Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Grace Harris, Kirby Short, Sammy-Jo Johnson and Amelia Kerr in the squad. The duo were unveiled as Heat recruits as part of Queensland Cricket’s annual regional tour, on Wednesday (August 28).



 

Two more locked away in our championship winning @wbbl squad 🏆

Welcome Mikalya Hinkley and welcome back Courtney Sippel!



Details 👉 https://t.co/hW2mNSmZYw#BringTheHeat #WBBL05 #WatchMe pic.twitter.com/Nu0bqAsUuW



— Brisbane Heat (@HeatBBL) August 27, 2019

 



Hinkley, a former Australia development squad member, was part of the championship-winning Sydney Thunder squad in the inaugural edition of the tournament. However, her recent relocation to Queensland sees her snapped up by the defending champions.



The 21-year-old, is a top order batter, who made her List-A debut for New South Wales as a teenager. She was also part of Australia’s age-group and development programs. Most recently, she was part of the tour to Sri Lanka in 2017.



This will be Hinkley’s fourth season in the competition, having represented Thunder in 2015, Perth Scorchers in 2017-18, and Hobart Hurricanes in 2018-19.



Having overcome stress fractures in her foot and leg, Hinkley is keen to make a mark for the defending champions in the fifth season of the competition.



“I couldn’t be more excited about getting the chance with the Heat after making the decision to relocate to Queensland earlier in the year,’’ she said. “I’ve been able to have a good off-season since recovering from a shoulder operation and am very keen to make the most of whatever opportunities come my way.”



Hinkley produced a match-winning knock of 45 not out for Hurricanes against Heat last season, where she shared a record 98-run stand with Corinne Hall for the fifth wicket.



 

Mikayla Hinkley turned it 🔛 when it mattered for the @HurricanesWBBL! @CommBank | #WBBL04 pic.twitter.com/jJf86j9bDv

— Rebel Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) December 30, 2018

 



Sippel, a promising allrounder, has re-signed with the club, after being part of the squad last season. She was a member of the Queensland Under-18 team that won the national T20 title last season.



The announcement comes shortly after Heat made their first overseas signing of the season, bringing Kerr, the young New Zealand leg-spinner into the squad.



Brisbane Heat squad so far: Mikayla Hinkley, Courtney Sippel, Amelia Kerr (international), Sammy-Jo Johnson, Kirby Short, Grace Harris, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney.