Amelia Kerr returns to WBBL with Brisbane Heat

New Zealand allrounder Amelia Kerr will return to Brisbane Heat for next season's WBBL after missing last year's campaign due to her break from the game to manage her mental health.

Legspinner Kerr has taken 31 wickets in 30 matches for Heat with an outstanding economy rate of 5.80 and will be able to resume a very strong spin-bowling combination with Jess Jonassen.

"We're excited to have her back in the squad this summer and I think her experience and insights will be very valuable for the group," Heat coach Ashley Noffke said. "Our young players will really enjoy the chance to learn from her as they play alongside her."

Kerr said: "Ash and the team were in regular contact while I was having a break, and the Heat have been nothing but supportive. I kept an eye on how they went last year and so I'm looking forward to coming back to Brisbane and having some fun with the Heat girls."

In an interview with ESPNcricinfo before this year's ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Kerr detailed her experience with mental health which came to a head in mid-2021. It led to her missing the tour of England as well as the WBBL.

"It was extremely tough," she said. "It just felt so suffocating. I wasn't sleeping at all and I think the lack of sleep obviously doesn't help, but I just felt like I was wasting away. It felt like you were slowly drowning - that's what it felt like."

Kerr enjoyed a magnificent run of form heading into the World Cup and though that dripped somewhat during the event she still scored 201 runs at 33.50 and claimed nine wickets at 31.77 in seven matches.

Heat currently have eight of their squad for next season locked in including prolific top-order batter Georgia Redmayne and talented youngster Georgia Voll.