Smriti Mandhana Joins Brisbane Heat For Big Bash League Cricket

Smriti Mandhana, the Indian women's team opener, has been signed up by Brisbane Heat for the second season of Big Bash League cricket.

Mandhana, 20, becomes the second India women's player to sign for the Australian Big Bash League cricket after Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian team's vice-captain, was signed by Sydney Thunder earlier this year.

"I am looking forward very much to working with the Australian girls in the Brisbane Heat squad after playing against them last season," Mandhana told ESPNCricinfo.

"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," she added.

Mandana made her international debut against Bangladesh in a T20 in 2013. She has played 20 T20Is, scoring 321 runs at an average of 18.88. In ODIs, her record has been pretty impressive. In 20 matches, she has hit 645 runs at an average of 32.25.

During India's tour of Australia earlier this year, Mandana struck her maiden ton and followed it up with scores of 55, 55 and 46 in her next three ODIs. She also played crucial knocks of 29 and 22 in India's maiden T20I series win Down Under.

According to the rules of the Women's Big Bash League, a cap of two international players is allowed in the playing XI. West Indies' Deandra Dottin is the other international recruit in the Heat's side.

The 2016-17 edition of Women's Big Bash League will be played from December 10-January 28.