New England kid on the block Bess Heath is relishing her second taste of women’s Big Bash cricket in Australia over the next couple of months.
The Northern Diamonds wicketkeeper-batter has signed on to play for the Brisbane Heat in a T20 competition which runs from next Thursday to December 2.
Last winter, she earned a late call-up as a replacement player for the Melbourne Stars, filling a spot vacated following an injury to Jemimah Rodrigues.
She was already in Australia playing grade cricket at the time.
Picture by Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images. Bess Heath bats for the Melbourne Stars in last year’s WBBL.
Since then, a lot has changed for the 22-year-old from Chesterfield.
She has continued her progression in Diamonds’ colours, and with England A and the Northern Superchargers as well.
And last month, Heath earned a full senior international debut in an ODI victory over Sri Lanka at Leicester, scoring a quick-fire 21 down the order late in the innings.
Nicknamed BAM, because of her initials Bess Alice May and also her powerful batting style, Heath was drafted by the Heat, with their coach Ashley Noffke saying: “She’s a player on the rise.”
Heath will join a squad including Australia internationals Grace Harris and Jess Jonassen, lining up alongside fellow overseas player Amelia Kerr from New Zealand.
Heat will begin their title bid next Friday (October 20, 5am UK) against the Melbourne Renegades at St Kilda’s CitiPower Centre. Chloe Tryon, who spent this summer with the Diamonds, is playing for Sydney Sixers in the same competition.
Picture by Barrington Coombs – ECB/ Getty Images. Bess Heath on England duty last month.
“It will be a new group for me with Brisbane, which will be exciting,”said Heath.
“I’m looking forward to contributing for them but also learning off some great players.”
Heath scored an encouraging 128 runs in seven matches with a top score of 37 for the Stars this time last year, but is primed for bigger and better things.
“I’m a year down the line and a lot has changed since then,” she continued.
“I’m always looking to be better and keep progressing, and I feel a lot more confident with where my game’s at now.
“Last year, going out there and playing for the Stars, it was a last-minute thing to get called up and take Jemimah’s spot. But it was a good opportunity to get my name out there.
“I’m really looking forward to it.”
