Mandhana signs with Brisbane Heat for Women's BBL

India Women's opener Smriti Mandhana has signed a one-year deal with Brisbane Heat for the second edition of the Women's Big Bash League, the franchise announced on Tuesday. Mandhana became the second India Women's player to sign for the BBL, after Harmanpreet Kaur, the vice-captain, signed a contract with defending champions Sydney Thunder. Mandhana will join Deandra Dottin, the West Indies vice-captain, as Heat's second international recruit for the season.

ESPNcricinfo understands the signing had been in the works for over a month now, with the formal announcement coming following BCCI's no-objection certificate.

"I am looking forward very much to working with the Australian girls in the Heat squad after playing against them last season," Mandhana told Cricket Australia. "That was a good series, and I noticed there was a definite difference between their preparation and our preparation so I am keen to learn from the differences.

"Things like fitness and how they train for a series like the WBBL and the way they work on their fielding are areas I am interested in. It will be exciting to live in a different city and meet new people as well as travel around Australia again."

Heat coach Andy Richards said Mandhana was high on their wish list following strong words of recommendation from a number of Australia Women players, who featured in the ODI in Hobart earlier this year where Mandhana struck her maiden international century. She followed that up with scores of 55, 55 and 46 in her next three ODIs.

"When the opportunity came about that some of the Indian players were going to be available for the WBBL, the Brisbane girls were onto us straight away about Smriti," Richards said. "It's going to be an enjoyable experience for all of us as a squad, with her and Deandra joining us. I think it's going to make the second season of the WBBL even more exciting."

Mandhana came to international limelight in 2014 when she made a half-century in India's historic Test win over England in Wormsley. She also played a key role in India's maiden series triumph against Australia earlier this year, when she struck 29 and 22 not out in the team's T20I series win.