Selection in recent Australian T20 squads has given international aspirant Charli Knott plenty of incentive ahead of WBBL|11
Brisbane Heat allrounder Charli Knott is tipped to make her Australia debut in the near future which is why the upcoming WBBL season presents a big opportunity.
The 22-year-old has already toured with the Australian T20 squad to New Zealand and ODI squad to India, although she did not play.
The stylish batter and offspin bowler was also given the captaincy of the Australia A four-day and T20 teams in the recent home series against India A.
There has been a lot of noise around Knott as a future long-term Australian player. She was touted as a bolter ahead of the recent World Cup campaign and is a strong contender for next year’s T20 World Cup in England.
“It is obviously really exciting to know my game has progressed enough to be put in those (discussions) but what is going to be best for my development is focusing on the Big Bash right now,” Knott told AAP.
“If I can put good performances together that will get me where I want to go.
“Cricket is heading towards a more aggressive style of play and I want to take my game to that level as well.”
The tours of New Zealand and India showed how far she had come.
“It was a confidence booster,” she said.
“I had never been to India before so it was good to be around the team, train on Indian wickets and learn from those players.
“Indian pitches are different so hopefully if I get to play there I will benefit from that exposure.”
Brisbane Heat skipper Jess Jonassen forged a stellar career for Australia and knows what it takes to play at the top level. Jonassen has no doubts Knott will follow in her footsteps.
“I firmly believe in Charli. She is someone that has been touted as a leader and quality player from a very young age,” Jonassen told AAP.
“I like the way that she has taken her all-round game to a new level and been exposed to those leadership opportunities as well.
“She is real cool, calm and collected character. People with that temperament and mentality generally find that success follows them.
“She has an incredible work ethic and is somebody who knows how she wants to play. She will be there (in Australia contention) and hot on her tail will be Sianna Ginger and Lucy Hamilton. We have so much young talent coming through.”
Knott and Jonassen will line up in the WBBL season opener at Allan Border Field against Melbourne Renegades on Sunday.
After narrow losses in the previous two WBBL finals, Knott is enthused about going the extra step.
“This year everyone is ready to go the whole way so if we can get into that final we will savour it,” she said.
