Stars, imports and rising talent revealed

Former Australian Test opener Joe Burns, World Cup winner Grace Harris, and Test star Marnus Labuschagne headline a record-breaking roster of talent set to launch the 2026 T20 Max tournament.

Organised by Queensland Cricket, the elite pre-season competition returns as the premier launching pad for aspiring talent to lock in Big Bash League and Women’s Big Bash League contracts.

More than 200 contracted interstate and international players will line up alongside local Premier Cricket stars across two action-packed weeks.

The women’s competition begins on Wednesday, August 19, running through to August 30, before the men’s tournament takes centre stage from Thursday, August 20 until September 5.

Recently batting with Brendon McCullum’s son – Riley Mccullum in the Century Cricket competitions in Mackay two weeks back, Waugh adds high-profile firepower and interstate quality to Ipswich’s T20 Max campaign.

The former Australia U19 representative and established NSW Premier Grade cricketer, he brings genuine middle-order stroke-play paired with handy medium-pace bowling.

Capable of shifting gears rapidly, his national pathway experience and dynamic dual-skill set provide Ipswich with an invaluable big-game threat as they chase success in the tournament.

Sandhu is recovering ahead of schedule from a knee injury and is already bowling off a half-to-three-quarter run-up as he targets being available for his team’s first game of the summer.

He enjoyed a breakout BBL campaign with the Melbourne Renegades last summer, finishing as the competition’s leading wicket-taker and claiming the Golden Arm after taking on a senior role in the attack.

Now, he wants to go one better and become the first bowler to win the award in consecutive seasons.

“I got the Golden Arm. It’d be nice to try and do that again,” Sandhu said.

“I don’t think anybody’s done it back-to-back. So personally, that’ll be pretty cool.”

His immediate focus, however, is proving his knee is ready for the demands of another long season — with T20 Max providing an important opportunity to build towards his BBL campaign.

“The knee’s going really well ahead of schedule at the moment,” he said.

“Everything’s tracking really nicely to be fit and available for selection for game one for the state.”

Sandhu believes the biggest difference last season was simply being fit and entering the BBL with cricket under his belt.

“I really enjoyed that part of trying to mentally lead the attack,” the veteran fast-bowler said.

“I like that bit of extra responsibility.”

He will be playing against his brother Harmon Sandhu in the competition.

Harmon Sandhu’s cricket journey began in Sydney, playing club cricket with his brother and father before progressing through Blacktown and Fairfield-Liverpool and earning opportunities at state level.

He moved to Queensland after the T20 Max began, initially intending to return to Sydney before staying for greater opportunities.

Now skippering Wynnum-Manly and opening the bowling, Sandhu has his sights set on finals and a chance to showcase his skills. He also shares a unique bond with brother Gurinder, who plays for South Brisbane.

While younger brother Harry Wilson continues to make his mark as Wallabies captain, Sam Wilson is quietly building his own legacy on the cricket field.

The Toombul captain is entering his 14th season of T20 Max, targeting a finals push with a club he believes has the right mix of emerging talent and experienced campaigners.

Wilson’s cricket journey has shared plenty of overlap with Harry’s rugby career, with the brothers growing up in Gunnedah, NSW, playing both sports and even lining up together at Norths.

“We’re all very close. They’re my best mates,” Wilson said of Harry and brother Will.

Wilson said the family was proud of Harry’s achievements but the rugby star remains a keen follower of Premier Cricket.

“He almost follows this Premier Grade cricket competition closer than he does rugby,” he said.

The skipper is also excited about young Australian Under-19 leg-spinner Spencer Green, while Tom Balkin and potentially Australian Matt Renshaw could bolster the side.

Wilson’s leadership philosophy is simple – to trust his players.

“Just very much back the players we have in our team, and back their skill sets,” he said.

“More just backing our players and making sure that they know exactly their role when we go out to play.”

Catherine White’s journey from throwing a cricket ball around in the backyard of her family home in Childers to the brink of a WBBL debut is one she still finds hard to believe.

White, who began playing cricket at 10 with virtually no experience, was thrust into the Brisbane Heat squad last season after an unexpected phone call from coach Joe Dawes.

“I was definitely a little shocked,” White said.

“I got the phone call and I was like, ‘Oh, are you sure? Like, are you sure?’”

The next day, she travelled from Childers to Sydney to join the Heat for their clash with the Sydney Thunder.

She did not make her debut, but ran drinks before getting her chance to take the field for an over when a teammate needed a break.

“Two days later I’m in Sydney running drinks for the Heat,” White said.

“Which is sort of crazy to reflect on.”

The experience became even more surreal in Perth, where White witnessed the intensity of a WBBL crowd while playing the Perth Scorchers.

But her rise had started years earlier, with backyard sessions alongside her brother and dad before she joined Childers Cricket Club, where she played for seven years.

At 15, she stepped into grade cricket with the Sunshine Coast Scorchers, gradually working her way into first grade.

White credits a fellow player’s father for encouraging her to stick around after a pre-season game in Maryborough.

“If it wasn’t for that parent, I probably wouldn’t be here where I am today,” she said.

Now a right-arm fast bowler in the Queensland Fire squad, White is embracing the next step, with T20 Max providing another opportunity to learn from more experienced players.

Her ambitions are simple.

“I just want to enjoy the experience,” she said.

“This has probably been one of the seasons where I’ve looked forward to playing cricket the most.”

Victorian Premier Cricket rising star Mitch Jamieson returns for his second stint with the Scorchers, offering top-order firepower.

New Zealand ‘A’ representative Curtis Heaphy brings quality and international pathway experience to the squad as a refined wicketkeeper and batter.

Late-blooming Sydney paceman Peter Francis broke into the NSW One-Day side last season following dominant Premier Cricket and Irish league performances.

Brisbane-born batter Nick Selman provides stability and experience, having accumulated extensive First-Class, List A, and T20 stints with English county side Glamorgan.

Long-time Papua New Guinea international Chad Soper remains a prolific wicket-taker and primary seam weapon for the Coast.

Leg-spinner Toby Gray brings high-level experience to the Scorchers, having featured in the Big Bash League for the Sydney Thunder as well as representing NSW.

Former Queensland Fire and Brisbane Heat pacer Sippel links up with the Scorchers following her contract shift to the Tasmanian tigers.

With 64 WNCL wickets under her belt, the Kingaroy product offers proven seam movement and new-ball control.

Her top-level domestic execution makes Sunshine Coast’s powerplay bowling attack instantly more formidable.

Dangerous all-rounder Ruth Johnston brings genuine game-breaking ability to the Scorchers.

Originally rising to prominence with an 865-run, 22-wicket local Queensland Premier cricket campaign in 2021, Johnston secured a full-time state deal with Tasmania after starting with Queensland Fire.

Her capacity to turn matches via middle-order striking and useful off-spin makes her a crucial multi-tooled matchwinner.

Rising star Theo Bacalakis continues his upward trajectory following a stellar campaign leading Queensland’s U17s to a National Championship title earlier this year.

The gritty top-order all-rounder amassed over 1,700 runs at an average of 38 alongside 25 wickets last summer.

Fresh off representing Australia at the U19 World Cup, fast bowler Ben Gordon brings high-octane pace to the UQ attack.

The product will look to break games open with raw speed and early breakthroughs.

A bedrock of stability for the Queensland Bulls, Jack Clayton offers middle-order calm and destructive top-order potential.

As the only batter to finish inside the competition’s top 10 run-scorers across four straight seasons from the Bulls, his batting intent is needed by UQ to bolster their premiership title chances.

Victorian Rhys McKenna brings crucial tactical poise to a UQ squad featuring strong southern representation.

Known for her disciplined seam bowling and capability to score quick runs down the order, McKenna provides a calm presence in high-pressure finishes.

Contracted Cricket Australia talent Tess Flintoff stands as one of the competition’s most explosive young prospects.

Flintoff pairs mid-110s pace with powerful late-order hitting, famously holding records for rapid domestic half-centuries.

Her presence could provide a game-changing edge with both bat and ball across all three match phases.

Victorian spin prospect Hasrat Gill arrives at UQ with huge wraps on her developing craft following a bright WBBL debut season with the Sydney Thunder.

Gill’s ability to turn the ball sharply while holding tight-lines makes her an ideal middle-overs controller, giving a strategic slow-bowling point of difference on hard local wickets.

Brisbane Heat star Charli Knott will feature in a delayed start after earning a late call-up to the Southern Brave in England’s Hundred competition.

Knott’s evolution into a premier off-spinning all-rounder and dynamic middle-order finisher gives UQ elite top-level depth once she completes her overseas stint and rejoins the squad for the finals stretch.

Brisbane Heat player and global T20 franchise specialist Jack Wood leads Ipswich’s assault as an adaptable, matchwinning all-rounder.

Former Australia U19 left-arm spinner Riley Ayre boasts New South Wales First-Class experience and top-grade Sydney Premier Cricket pedigree.

Australian U19 World Cup pace bowler Charlie Lachmund enters the season on a Queensland Bulls rookie contract, bringing fast-bowling strike power.

Former Toowoomba Grammar prospect Jem Ryan made an impressive Queensland debut last season following a standout pathway run with Ipswich.

Former Sandgate-Redcliffe product Adrian Lascu brings international pedigree to Ipswich, having featured in 21 T20 Internationals for Romania.

Reigning Ipswich Hornets Player of the Year Noah Emmerson provides key balance to the roster as an effective spin-bowling all-rounder.

Hobart Hurricanes batter Rachel Trenaman continues to press her claim for higher honours following a stellar recovery from double knee reconstructions.

A standout WNCL season yielded 648 runs in 11 matches, earning her a spot in the Team of the Tournament and a Test squad inclusion for the pink-ball clash in Perth.

She remains a crucial upper-order weapon.

New Zealand export Kate Anderson delivers international pedigree to a developing Ipswich top order. A consistent operator across the domestic circuit who has earned four T20I caps for the White Ferns, Anderson provides early-overs poise. Her ability to anchor innings and accelerate late shows a proven big-stage performer who stabilises the top half of the order.

Dynamic wicketkeeper batter Polly Inglis lands with extensive international experience, having represented New Zealand in 15 white-ball fixtures. Inglis brings valuable flexibility to the middle order alongside sharp glovework behind the stumps.

Former Australian Test opener Joe Burns returns to local soil with a point to prove. After missing selection for Italy’s T20 World Cup squad despite leading their qualification run, the veteran provides elite experience and firepower at the top.

New Zealand international Dane Cleaver brings proven class to Norths’ middle order. Holding a first-class average of 41 and 13 T20I caps for the Black Caps, the keeper-batter remains squarely on the international radar following recent national duties.

Ex-AFL player Noah McFadyen has made a seamless transition to red-ball dominance, claiming back-to-back Bradman Medals as Premier Cricket’s best player. Honing his trade against elite opposition like Scott Boland, the South Australia-contracted talent adds genuine matchwinning quality.

Drafted into Sheffield Shield action during an injury-hit Bulls campaign, ACT quick Sam Skelly has secured a Queensland state contract. Armed with raw talent and high-pressure experience, he looms as a pivotal frontline weapon this summer.

Reigning Peter Burge Medallist Mitch Doolan enters the tournament in white-hot form. The First Grade powerhouse dominated the circuit last season, amassing 897 runs across 23 matches with two centuries and five fifties to cement his reputation.

Widely tipped as one of Queensland’s brightest batting prospects, Eli Brain earns his stripes after earn Australia U19 selection for their tour of India. The aggressive youngster possesses the firepower to anchor or explode on demand.

Gold Coast recruit Judd Markham arrives at Toombul carrying serious momentum after lighting up the All-Ireland T20 Cup with Lisburn. His blistering 47 off 14 balls in the semi-finals showcased the explosive hitting power he brings to the line-up.

Former Sydney Thunder batter Blake Nikitaras heads north seeking new opportunities after parting ways with New South Wales. Following the path of several interstate transfers, the dynamic left-hander adds crucial middle-order depth and Big Bash credentials.

Touted by skipper Sam Wilson as Toombul’s player to watch, leg-spinner Spencer Green has earned Australian U19 honours. Having refined his craft under former Heat coach John Davidson, his expanding suite of variations poses a major threat.

Toombul bolsters its roster with Kiwi duo Harry Chamberlain and Ryan Harrison. Both bring extensive First Class and T20 experience from the New Zealand domestic circuit, making Toombul one of the most balanced setups in the competition.

Former Renegades pathway keeper-batter Brandon Faber returns to South Brisbane following a high-impact Victorian stint.

The explosive 25-year-old scored 297 runs in last year’s T20 Max, highlighted by dynamic strike rates and multiple half-centuries.

Veteran power-hitter Ben Cutting returns to local action, balancing real estate ventures with his trademark death-overs assault. Coming off a vintage 39 off 18 balls in the Abu Dhabi T10 from last year, his boundary-clearing capability remains elite.

Having earned an Australia A nod last year, left-arm spinner Zanden Jeh continues to refine his all-round game in grade cricket. A deceptively skilful bowler and capable batter, he offers critical control in key phases.

Touted as a special talent in New Zealand circles, 19-year-old prodigy Xavier Bell brings an immense appetite for huge scores. With historic double-centuries in academy and school ranks, he projects as a long-term middle-order anchor.

International experience meets middle-order utility in Melbourne Renegades all-rounder Matt Spoors. A former Canada international with a T20I century to his name, his clean striking and leg-spin provide invaluable flexibility.

Recent Australian U19 selection Theo Tsingos enters the competition as a high-potential talent, adding raw skill and youth energy to Sandgate-Redcliffe’s bowling ranks.

Experienced leg-spinner Mitch Swepson brings elite Big Bash and international credentials (having represented both the Brisbane Heat and Melbourne Stars), offering experience in captaincy, field settings as well as quality leg-spin.

A veteran of multiple Big Bash franchises — including the Renegades, Hurricanes, and Strikers — Cam Boyce forms a lethal leg-spin tandem alongside Swepson to restrict scoring through the middle overs.

Top-order batter Dylan Brasher made his First-Class debut for Victoria last season and previously featured in the T20 Max for Wynnum-Manly, bringing established top-tier power to the club.

Newly added to the Queensland Bulls squad this season, top-order batter Steven Hogan offers significant stability and dynamic run-scoring capability. He is coming off the back of a good U19 World Cup earlier this year.

New South Wales 2nd XI pace bowler Brad Simpson adds real frontline threat with the ball, giving Sandgate-Redcliffe a hardened, high-level seam option.

Cairns-based batter and former Queensland U19 representative Aiden Firman loom as a genuine T20 “smokey” with his rapid scoring ability.

Big-hitting Tasmanian 2nd XI player Jayden Vince delivers dangerous boundary-clearing power to the middle order.

Queensland Bulls and Australia A top-order batter Bryce Street returns to his former club, providing rock-solid stability and deep innings anchoring.

Queensland Fire and Heat fast bowler Nicola Hancock heads to Sandgate-Redcliffe after destroying them last season with a four-wicket haul for University of Queensland. With 125 WBBL wickets on her resume, Hancock remains one of the country’s most reliable opening bowlers, giving the Gators a genuine strike option with both new and old balls.

White Ferns pacer Molly Penfold joins Hancock to form one of the competition’s most imposing new-ball partnerships. Having earned 27 caps for New Zealand, Penfold brings global franchise experience and raw boundary-clearing capability. Her capacity to bowl with heat upfront and hit unplayable lengths gives Sandgate-Redcliffe a multidimensional attack capable of breaking games wide open early.

Courtney Webb enters the campaign targeting momentum ahead of Australia A’s clashes with World Cup champions India. The middle-order batter dominated the WNCL with consecutive half-centuries to earn Team of the Tournament honours. Webb’s knack for controlling high-pressure run chases makes her the strategic centrepiece of the team’s middle-overs enterprise as she builds toward international selection.

Melbourne Stars finger-spinner Sophie Day brings elite T20 credentials to Queensland pitches following a standout WBBL campaign.

Day finished among the league’s top five wicket-takers with 16 scalps, showcasing rare flight, drop, and control. Her capacity to lock down boundary hitters in the middle overs gives Sandgate-Redcliffe a premier slow-bowling option for tight turnarounds.

Queensland top-order star Georgia Voll turns her focus strictly to on-field dominance following recent off-field media scrutiny. Voll arrives fresh off an impressive stint in The Hundred, where she smashed 250 runs in eight matches for Welsh Fire.

Returning to home territory, her explosive stroke play at the top of the order remains a major matchwinning asset.

Bulls veteran James Bazley continues to evolve his middle-order muscle and will prepare for a big summer ahead. Towering at 200cm, his steep bounce with the ball and clearing capacity with the bat make him a Premier Grade game-changer.

Victorian Premier Team of the Year selection Matt Hennig brings terrifying heat to the Redlands attack, regularly pushing the 140km/h mark.

Fresh off a 41-wicket Victorian premier cricket campaign, his sheer pace will unsettle top orders across the competition.

Test star Marnus Labuschagne channels recent T20 captaincy success in the Pakistan Premier League — where he scored 344 runs — back into local action. He leads Redlands during his availability, bringing world-class experience to the squad.

Marnus will be trying to regain his form, after being on the verge of facing a Test axe.

Promising paceman Tom Vaseo also earns his stripes following selection in the Australian U19 squad to tour India. Known for early-over strikes and steep bounce, the youngster adds high-ceiling potential to the bowling card.

Fresh off a destructive stint in England featuring a stunning 250 off 155 balls, Australian U19 product Jayden Draper carries massive momentum. His fearless attacking mindset gives Valleys an explosive option at the top.

Ex-Gold Coast quick Jackson Smith has reinvented his game in Victoria, featuring for Northcote and earned a Global Super League call-up.

Balancing teaching with high-level cricket, he gives Valleys an experienced, high-impact seam option.

Former Fire and Heat batter Mikayla Hinkley returns to her old stomping grounds for another T20 Max campaign.

Now contracted with the Tasmanian tigers, Hinkley’s extensive domestic experience provides Valley with a reliable, calm head in tricky middle-overs situations. Her adaptability against spin makes her vital for anchoring difficult run-chases under lights.

Adelaide Strikers middle-order batter Tabatha Saville adds crucial power-hitting pedigree to the Valley middle order, using her WBBL experience.

Known for her aggressive approach against spin and clear boundary options, Saville provides the rapid scoring tempo required late in T20 innings.

Young Adelaide Strikers all-rounder Ella Wilson provides Valley with a genuine balance option through her accurate medium-pace and late-order power.

Wilson’s steady development in the South Australian system makes her a valuable broad-spectrum contributor, also capable of holding tight economy rates through middle overs.

Emerging Queensland Fire and Heat talent Sianna Ginger steps into the tournament backed by recent Australia A selection honours.

A genuine all-rounder who moves the ball both ways, Ginger’s rapid rise through the pathways adds youthful energy and elite technical quality to Valley’s top order and medium-pace bowling rotations.

Reigning NSW Premier First Grade Team of the Year selection Matt Moran brings elite all-round credentials to Wynnum. Coming off a 1,000-run, 30-wicket summer for Eastern Suburbs, his dual-threat ability completely alters match dynamics.

Perth Scorchers regular Nick Hobson brings proven BBL top-order aggression to the set up. The experienced left-hander specialises in rapid starts, leveraging his clean striking to maximise field restrictions during the powerplay.

Former Nepal international Kamal Singh Airee brings international experience coupled with deep local roots. A mainstay in the Queensland Nepalese cricket community, his tactical sharpness and middle-over skills bolster the squad significantly.

Local talent Aadi Mahata builds on his experience in the Nepal Premier League as he returns to club duties. Settled in Brisbane, his sharp middle-order play adds versatility and firepower to the line-up.

Rising Queensland batter Mikayla Wrigley moves across to the reigning KFC T20 Max champions, instantly bolstering the Manly’s middle order.

Wrigley’s clean striking and adaptability make her a key addition for the team as they retool their line-up, filling vital middle-overs scoring slots with high-upside local talent.

Young batting prodigy Grace Collins steps into an elevated role for Manly, looking to cement her reputation as one of the state’s most promising strokemakers.

Collins possesses great range against seam and will be tasked with setting early platform dynamics alongside Wrigley to keep Wynnum’s title defence on track.

Noted T20 destroyer Laura Harris returns to take on boundary-clearing roles with unrivalled strike-rate potential.

Capable of altering match equations within two overs, Harris remains the most feared finisher in domestic cricket.

Her presence at the back end gives Wynnum an explosive edge over every opposition attack.

Hobart Hurricanes seamer Hayley Silver-Holmes is a proven interstate pace option with extensive WBBL experience. Silver-Holmes hits hard lengths with the new ball and possesses clear death-bowling plans, filling a vital tactical void for the defending champions as they look to maintain control across high-scoring powerplay periods.

Promising left-arm spinner Clodagh Ryall provides crucial tactical flexibility through the middle overs.

Her ability to take the ball away from right-handers and hold strict economy lines gives the defending titleholders a balanced spin combination capable of controlling tempos on dry, turning surfaces.

Emerging leg-spinner Amreen Kahlon completes Wynnum’s slow-bowling set up, bringing wrist-spin variation to the Sea Eagles’ attack.

Kahlon’s aggressive flight and willingness to toss the ball up make her a genuine wicket-taking option in tight T20 scenarios, offering her team valuable depth through their title-defending campaign.

Spin wizard Paddy Dooley brings proven BBL experience as a local replacement player for the Brisbane Heat. His unique, unorthodox bowling action makes him a high-grade, highly experienced T20 specialist.

Former BBL regular Will Bosisto brings extensive overseas franchise experience to the line-up.

Once rated by former South African spinner and Bulls former coach Johan Botha as the best uncontracted batter in Australia, he delivers dynamic polish to the top order.

Prospective all-rounder Sam Geyer builds on momentum after making his Queensland First-Class debut last season. His ability to impact with both bat and ball gives Wests key tactical versatility.

Former Queensland fast bowler Blake Edwards returns to competitive cricket following a hiatus after losing his state contract. Back playing for Wests, he headlines a potent, refreshed seam attack.

Oli Patterson earned a Brisbane Heat contract after finishing as the leading wicket-taker in the T20 Max last season. He went on to make his domestic One-Day and BBL debuts, bringing high-end momentum to the squad.

Australia U19 representative Tom Campbell holds a spot on the Queensland rookie contract list. His emerging skill set provides genuine multi-format quality to Wests’ middle order and spin set up.

Paceman Tom Whitney offers high-level pace depth, possessing Big Bash League experience with the Melbourne Stars alongside First-Class and One-Day honours for the Queensland Bulls.

Adelaide Strikers and ACT Meteors stalwart Katie Mack brings elite top-order consistency to a stacked Wests batting card.

A decade-long veteran of professional women’s cricket circuits, Mack’s precision placement and rapid footwork make her one of the most reliable powerplay accumulators in Australian domestic cricket, anchoring Wests’ title ambitions.

Veteran Melbourne Renegades all-rounder Sarah Coyte remains one of domestic cricket’s most clutch performers.

With multiple national titles and international caps to her name, Coyte’s clever variations at the death and middle-order composure give her team an unmatched level of tactical experience in high-stakes tournament scenarios.

World Cup winner and Brisbane Heat powerhouse Grace Harris joins Wests straight off her campaign in England’s Hundred competition.

One of the most destructive strikers in the global game, Harris can single-handedly clear any boundary while offering crucial tight off-spin, making her the marquee threat of the entire T20 Max tournament.

Australia Under-19 selection Filippa SueSee adds raw athletic upside and power to the Wests middle order.

An emerging all-rounder capable of changing matches in a short span, SueSee represents the next wave of local talent, benefiting directly from playing alongside high-profile international teammates within a star-studded set up.

Leg-spinner Aya Stafford brings a fascinating dynamic to Wests, pairing Australia U19 squad selection with senior international experience for Japan at the T20I level.

Her wrist-spin provides valuable middle-overs drift and turn, offering Wests an unpredictable attack option capable of breaking top-order partnerships on wearing wickets.

Queensland icon and Australian international spinner Matt Kuhnemann anchors the Gold Coast attack, providing world-class spin and tournament-tested leadership.

All-rounder Josh Kann brings Big Bash experience tied to the Strikers, Sixers, and Hurricanes, offering genuine dynamic impact with both bat and ball.

Current Sydney Sixers star and contracted Queensland Bulls player Hayden Kerr adds elite all-round quality and death-overs versatility.

Former Glamorgan First-Class batter Callum Taylor — raised on the Gold Coast with Australian 2nd XI experience — strengthens the top-order depth.

Emerging Australian U19 wicketkeeper/batter Lachy Aitken brings sharp work behind the stumps alongside aggressive middle-order batting.

Australian U19 fast bowler Cody Reynolds adds raw pace and early-over breakthrough ability to the Gold Coast seam unit.

Youngest son of Australian legend Craig McDermott, Zac McDermott continues to elevate his game after earning opportunities in Queensland’s 2nd XI set up.

Right-arm leg-spinner Grace Parsons returns to her home club at a critical juncture, boosting a Gold Coast side short on top-tier experience.

Returning to T20 action following a frustrating WBBL lay-off last summer, Parsons’ main role will be anchoring the middle overs.

She joins a strong attack alongside Victorian pacer Milly Illingworth and South Australia’s fast bowler Kate Peterson.

Bridget Patterson brings elite top-order stability to the Gold Coast line-up, anchored by more than 100 WBBL appearances.

Coming off an exceptional WBBL campaign where she struck at over 144 while averaging 38.4, her tactical prowess behind the stumps complements her batting authority. Patterson’s experience makes her the vital foundation around which Gold Coast’s batting unit is built.

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