Focussed on processes, not on outcomes: Jess Jonassen

teams in the sixth season of the Women's Big Bash League, Brisbane Heat have a new look squad. Following the retirement of two-time trophy-winning skipper Kirby Short, and the loss of their two superstars Beth Mooney (Perth Scorchers) and Sammy-Jo Johnson (Sydney Thunder), the Queensland-based club have put their trust in allrounder Jess Jonassen to lead the side in WBBL06.

Speaking ahead of the tournament launch in Sydney on Thursday (October 22), Jonassen said she is excited for the tournament to get underway. The squad arrived in Sydney after undergoing a training camp in Brisbane, where all the players had the opportunity to fine-tune their skills and also get some match-practice under their belt.

"Things were going really well (in Brisbane)," said Jonassen. "Everybody's in really good shape which is really nice."

"We've got a few new additions this year which is really exciting and they've all sort of hit their straps. Nicola Hancock has been bowling as fast as I've ever seen her, so I'm looking forward to seeing her unleash early on in the tournament, hopefully. It's nice to have our Kiwi internationals (Maddy Green and Amelia Kerr) rejoin us again. Obviously after the recent series against them it's nice to call them teammates."

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In addition to the New Zealand duo of Kerr and Green, Heat have signed young South Africa allrounder Nadine de Klerk to fill their third overseas spot. The right-arm seamer, who completed her 14-day quarantine with the rest of the overseas WBBL contingent in Adelaide, got the chance to practice with the squad for a couple of days up in Brisbane.

Jonassen, who watched de Klerk rip through Australia's middle order in the T20 World Cup semi-final, said she is excited by what the seamer can bring the the table for Heat.

"She just sort of seems like a big ball of fun," she laughed. "She's really excited to get in amongst it. We had some centre wicket scenarios yesterday up in Brisbane and she performed really well and was a live-wire in the field. So she'll be another good addition to have around and somebody with a lot of energy."

Having won back-to-back titles in WBBL04 and aWBBL05, all eyes are on Heat to see if they can successfully complete a three-peat. While admitting that the thought has crossed her mind, the skipper said that the team is focused on "getting their processes right".

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"The only way we've really discussed it is saying that how cool would it be if it happened, but at the same time we've been a team that's been based purely around processes and not necessarily our outcomes. We know that there's going to be noise in and around it, there's going to be conversations, the talk and what not. For us it's about sticking to what we know. We know that team comes into the WBBL on zero points, everybody comes in wanting to win the tournament, and we're no different," Jonassen explained.

"It's sort of, if it comes to that (another title win) in the end, it would be an incredible achievement. In saying that, we know that it's not going to be easy at the best of times. We just know that if we play the best cricket we want to play and put it out there on the park, that the results will eventually take care of themselves."

Brisbane Heat are scheduled to kick off their campaign against Sophie Devine-led Perth Scorchers on Sunday (October 25). They will come up against their former teammate and highest run-getter Beth Mooney.