Brisbane Heat Women are in a tough spot. Jess Jonassen’s side have yet to win this season and are at the foot of the table, and their bowling was poor in a 41-run loss to Sydney Thunder Women. The top order has been the main worry, with inconsistent starts all season. Lauren Winfield-Hill and Charli Knott need to give them a base, while Jonassen, Chinelle Henry and Georgia Redmayne are asked to steady the middle order and Nadine de Klerk and Annie O’Neil provide late runs.
With the ball the Heat have lacked bite. Jonassen and Lucy Hamilton are expected to look for early wickets, and Sianna Ginger needs to rediscover her form in the middle overs alongside Nicola Hancock, with De Klerk and Knott offering support. A strong response is needed to keep their campaign alive.
Melbourne Stars Women, led by Annabel Sutherland, are in a far better place after beating Sydney Sixers Women by 111 runs on DLS. Meg Lanning hit a superb century and put on 159 with Rhys McKenna, and the pair will again be asked to set the tone. Sutherland, Amy Jones and Marizanne Kapp bring experience and power in the middle order, with Danielle Gibson, Kim Garth and Sasha Moloney adding depth. Garth and Kapp bowled well with the new ball last time, while Sophie Day, Sutherland, Maisy Gibson and McKenna give a balanced attack.