Queensland Fire has unveiled a formidable squad for the 2025–26 Women’s National Cricket League season, reflecting the fruits of a robust talent development system that continues to bear rich dividends across the State. With a clear focus on nurturing homegrown potential, the Fire have added two rising stars—Ruby Strange and Lilli Hamilton—to their contract list, signaling a new era of depth and dynamism.
After topping the ladder last season and finishing as runners-up in the WNCL Final, the Fire are eyeing redemption and silverware this time around. Their new squad blends youth and experience, with emerging talents seamlessly complementing battle-hardened veterans and Australian internationals.
The newest additions to the Fire setup hail from the Western Suburbs Cricket Club—22-year-old Ruby Strange and 17-year-old Lilli Hamilton. Hamilton, still in Year 12 at Fairholme College, makes history as Queensland’s first Fire rookie player under the newly revised squad contracting framework.
A right-arm off-spinner who started her cricketing journey in Toowoomba at age seven, Hamilton made her WNCL debut last season and impressed in the T20 Spring Challenge under the Brisbane Heat banner. She also starred at the National Under-19 Championships, finishing with 14 wickets and earning a spot in the Team of the Championship.
Meanwhile, Strange brings a blend of power and perseverance. A right-handed batter and right-arm medium pacer from Boyne Island-Tannum Sands, she showcased her prowess in the T20 Spring Challenge with a standout 4-35 spell and had previously earned a WBBL Brisbane Heat injury-replacement contract before a stress fracture ruled her out.
The dual Kath Smith Medalist has captained Queensland youth sides and was a standout for the Queensland Country Brolgas in their 2023–24 Toyota Australian Country title win, which also saw her earn a spot in the honorary Australian team.
Welcoming the duo, Fire head coach Mark Sorell praised the impact of state-wide cricket pathways, “Having Ruby and Lilli come into the Fire squad is a resounding tick for player development across the State and highlights the opportunities for the growing number of girls playing the game,” he said.
He further elaborated on the merits that earned both players their spots,“Ruby progressively built a strong case to be considered at a higher level through her Premier cricket and Country cricket results, and we were delighted with her performance during the Spring Challenge.”
On Hamilton’s rapid rise, Sorell added,“Lilli has made rapid strides, and her efforts for Wests and Queensland have been highly encouraging.”
Despite falling short in recent seasons, Sorell emphasized the team’s unwavering commitment to growth, “Even though we missed out trophies in recent seasons, our focus on learning and improving our game, individually and collectively, hasn’t altered.”
The Fire have bid farewell to two players—Courtney Sippel, who has moved to Tasmania, and Kira Holmes, who is currently recovering from ACL reconstruction surgery. Sorell reassured that Holmes remains a valued part of the Fire family, “Kira comes off our list as she continues her recovery from an ACL injury. We’ll support her across our programs as she works to return to full fitness in the future.”
In the 2024–25 WNCL season, Queensland dominated the group stage with eight wins from twelve matches before falling short in the final against New South Wales by 21 runs. Charli Knott led from the front with the bat, amassing 556 runs in 13 games—fourth highest across the league—while Jonassen spearheaded the bowling with 20 wickets from just 10 matches.
The squad also impressed in the previous T20 Spring Challenge, where players represented Brisbane Heat. The team won three of their four group matches and topped the points table, only to be edged out by Hobart Hurricanes in a nail-biting five-wicket final. Georgia Redmayne was the tournament’s second-highest run scorer with 208 runs from five games, while Nicola Hancock dominated the bowling with 10 wickets in six matches.
With the perfect blend of experience, ambition, and emerging flair, Queensland Fire is shaping up as a powerhouse ready to ignite the domestic circuit once again.
2025–26 Queensland Fire Squad:
Cricket Australia Contracted:
Grace Harris, Georgia Voll
Queensland Contracted:
Lilly Bassingthwaighte, Bonnie Berry, Lucinda Bourke, Sianna Ginger, Lilli Hamilton (Rookie), Lucy Hamilton, Nicola Hancock, Laura Harris, Jess Jonassen, Charli Knott, Grace Parsons, Georgia Redmayne, Ruby Strange, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Mikayla Wrigley
IN:
Lilli Hamilton (Rookie), Ruby Strange
OUT:
Kira Holmes, Courtney Sippel
