Big-hitting West Indies recruit Chinelle Henry wants to leave her WBBL mark after being drafted by the Brisbane Heat
Inspired by Jamaica’s great sprint queens and thinking of her compatriots impacted by Hurricane Melissa, Chinelle Henry has pledged to deliver on her big-hitting reputation as Brisbane’s trump WBBL draftee.
The 30-year-old hopes to follow West Indies teammates Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin in making waves in Australia, selected by the Heat to provide late innings big-hitting and medium pace.
Henry was training in Antigua and then flew to Australia through Miami when catastrophic winds of up to 298kph and storms caused at least 28 deaths and wrecked homes and businesses.
“Every time I pick up my phone .. it’s the first thing I see and there’s not really much I can do but send support,” Henry said on arrival in Brisbane on Monday, ahead of Sunday’s season opener.
“It’s a really hard time for people in Jamaica who’ve lost a lot due to this hurricane and now it’s about how we regroup as a country.”
Henry has played 57 one-day internationals and 65 T20 fixtures for the West Indies and admits choosing cricket over track and field or soccer was the “correct choice”.
But the former sprinter has been influenced by her country’s sprint stars as much as its cricketers, with Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce leaving a mark.
“Track and field … that was my first love,” she said.
“But dad was always playing and just dragging me along and somewhere along the way it developed.
“I’m really proud to be here today (representing Jamaica).
“(Power hitting is) the reason why I’m here, why the team signed me. Walking out on the field … whatever’s going to happen, I’ll stick to my style.”
Henry will team with Indian star Jemimah Rodrigues, who broke Australian hearts with a match-winning knock in the ODI World Cup semi-final, at the Heat.
She expects India’s title on home soil to supercharge the women’s game and has faith West Indian cricket can rise again.
“Every time we have a game or series, that’s the first comment,” she said when asked to assess the state of the game in her country.
“Our cricket’s not what it used to be (but) every time we put on that maroon we fight for the badge.
“It’s about trusting and believing in the process to getting back to that team that everyone was so used to talking about.”
Sunshine Coast wicketkeeper-batter Mikayla Wrigley was on Monday announced as the Heat’s 15th and final signing ahead of Sunday’s opener against the Melbourne Renegades at Allan Border Field.
