League | Women's Big Bash League |
---|---|
Personnel | |
Captain | Heather Knight |
Coach | Lisa Keightley |
Team information | |
City | Sydney |
Colours | Lime |
Home ground | Blacktown ISP Oval |
Secondary home ground(s) | Manuka Oval, North Sydney Oval |
History | |
Twenty20 debut | 6 December 2015 |
WBBL wins | 2 (2015–16, 2020–21) |
Official website | Sydney Thunder |
Current season |
The Sydney Thunder (WBBL) are an Australian women's Twenty20 cricket team based in Sydney Olympic Park, New South Wales. [lower-alpha 1] They are one of two teams from Sydney to compete in the Women's Big Bash League, the other being the Sydney Sixers. The Thunder have claimed two WBBL titles, winning the league's inaugural championship and the 2020–21 title. [2]
One of eight founding WBBL teams, the Sydney Thunder are aligned with the men's team of the same name. [3] At the official WBBL launch on 10 July 2015, Rene Farrell was unveiled as the team's first-ever player signing. [4] Joanne Broadbent was appointed as inaugural coach, while Alex Blackwell became the inaugural captain. [5] [6]
The Thunder played their first game on 6 December against the Sydney Sixers at Howell Oval in Penrith, winning by nine wickets with 40 balls remaining. [7]
The Thunder have combined with the Brisbane Heat to produce several "thrillers", [8] [9] [10] including:
The Thunder and the Perth Scorchers have met in two semi-finals:
Due to a scheduling quirk, the two teams did not meet in the Thunder's home state of New South Wales until the 2020–21 Women's Big Bash League season (when the season was played entirely in Sydney due to uncertainty surrounding state border closures during the COVID-19 pandemic). From 2017 to 2018, five of their regular season encounters were played at Lilac Hill Park and characterised by close finishes, including:
At the WBBL|02 season launch, Thunder captain Alex Blackwell said the Sydney Sixers "desperately want to beat us and we desperately want to beat them. It's set up to be a really good rivalry." [25] In a joint media conference ahead of WBBL|05, Sixers captain Ellyse Perry said she considers the Thunder "our biggest rivals" while the Thunder's Rachel Priest claimed "it was a really intense rivalry right when I started with the team". [26] Noteworthy matches include:
There have been three captains in the Thunder's history, including matches featuring an acting captain.
Captain | Span | M | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | W–L% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alex Blackwell | 2015–2019 | 60 | 36 [lower-alpha 2] | 23 [lower-alpha 3] | 0 | 1 | 61.02 |
Rachael Haynes | 2019–2022 | 42 | 15 | 22 [lower-alpha 3] | 0 | 5 | 38.46 |
Hannah Darlington | 2021 | 13 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 33.33 |
Source: [35]
Season | W–L | Pos. | Finals | Coach | Captain | Most Runs | Most Wickets | Most Valuable Player [lower-alpha 4] | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015–16 | 9–5* | 1st* | C | Joanne Broadbent | Alex Blackwell | Alex Blackwell – 410 | Rene Farrell – 26* | Stafanie Taylor | [36] [37] [38] |
2016–17 | 6–7 | 6th | DNQ | Joanne Broadbent | Alex Blackwell | Alex Blackwell – 386 | Nicola Carey – 14 | Harmanpreet Kaur | [39] [40] [41] |
2017–18 | 10–4 | 2nd | SF | Joanne Broadbent | Alex Blackwell | Rachael Haynes – 426 | Carey, Farrell – 17 | Rachael Haynes | [42] [43] [44] |
2018–19 | 9–4 | 2nd | SF | Joanne Broadbent | Alex Blackwell | Rachael Haynes – 376 | Stafanie Taylor – 19 | Rachel Priest | [45] [46] [47] |
2019–20 | 5–8 | 6th | DNQ | Trevor Griffin | Rachael Haynes [lower-alpha 5] | Alex Blackwell – 317 | Hannah Darlington – 16 | Hannah Darlington | [48] [49] [50] |
2020–21 | 7–5 | 3rd | C | Trevor Griffin | Rachael Haynes | Heather Knight – 446 | Sammy-Jo Johnson – 22* | Heather Knight | [51] [52] [53] |
2021–22 | 4–8 | 7th | DNQ | Trevor Griffin | Rachael Haynes [lower-alpha 6] | Smriti Mandhana – 377 | Hannah Darlington – 16 | Smriti Mandhana | [54] [55] [56] |
2022–23 | 1–10 | 8th | DNQ | Trevor Griffin | Rachael Haynes | Phoebe Litchfield – 280 | Samantha Bates – 12 | Phoebe Litchfield | [57] [58] [59] |
DNQ | Did not qualify | SF | Semi-finalists | * | Led the league |
EF | Lost the Eliminator | RU | Runners-up | ^ | League record |
CF | Lost the Challenger | C | Champions |
Venue | Games hosted by season | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | Total | |
Bankstown Oval | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | N/A [lower-alpha 7] | – | 2 |
Blacktown ISP Oval | – | 4 | – | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 11 | |
Drummoyne Oval | – | – | – | 1 | 2 | 2 | – | 5 | |
Howell Oval | 1 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 4 | |
Hurstville Oval | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | – | 2 | |
Lavington Sports Ground | – | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 2 | |
Manuka Oval | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 4 | |
North Dalton Park | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | |
North Sydney Oval | – | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 10 | |
Robertson Oval | – | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | 2 | |
Sydney Showground Stadium | 1 | 1 | – | 3 | – | 6 | – | 11 | |
University Oval No. 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 |
The following is a list of cricketers who have played for the Thunder after making their debut in the national women's team (the period they spent as both a Thunder squad member and an Australian-capped player is in brackets):
Opposition | M | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | W–L% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adelaide Strikers | 15 | 6 | 8 [lower-alpha 8] | 0 | 1 | 42.86 |
Brisbane Heat | 18 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 44.44 |
Hobart Hurricanes | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
Melbourne Renegades | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 56.25 |
Melbourne Stars | 17 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 69.23 |
Perth Scorchers | 18 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 41.18 |
Sydney Sixers | 16 | 6 [lower-alpha 2] | 9 | 0 | 1 | 40.00 |
Total | 115 | 55 [lower-alpha 2] | 53 [lower-alpha 8] | 0 | 7 | 50.93 |
Source: [63]
Source: [63]
Year | Kit Manufacturer | Chest Sponsor | Back Sponsor | Breast Sponsor | Sleeve Sponsor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015–16 | Majestic Athletic | Rebel | XVenture | XVenture | Rebel |
2016–17 | Homeworld | Mazda | |||
2017–18 | |||||
2018–19 | Mazda | Amart Furniture | Homeworld | ||
2019–20 | Ring.com | ||||
2020–21 | Chamberlain | Chamberlain | |||
2021–22 | Nike | Chamberlain | Homeworld | What's Your Plan B? | |
The Women's Big Bash League is the Australian women's domestic Twenty20 cricket competition. The WBBL replaced the Australian Women's Twenty20 Cup, which ran from the 2007–08 season through to 2014–15. The competition features eight city-based franchises, branded identically to the men's Big Bash League (BBL). Teams are made up of current and former Australian national team members, the country's best young talent, and up to three overseas marquee players.
The Sydney Sixers (WBBL) are an Australian women's Twenty20 cricket team based in Moore Park, New South Wales. They are one of two teams from Sydney to compete in the Women's Big Bash League, the other being the Sydney Thunder. Having won two championship titles and four minor premierships, the Sixers are the most successful WBBL franchise to date.
The Brisbane Heat (WBBL) are an Australian women's Twenty20 cricket team based in Albion, Queensland. The Heat compete in the Women's Big Bash League and have won two championships, winning back-to-back titles across WBBL|04 and WBBL|05.
The Adelaide Strikers (WBBL) are an Australian women's Twenty20 cricket team based in North Adelaide, South Australia. They compete in the Women's Big Bash League, and won their first championship in WBBL|08.
The Perth Scorchers (WBBL) are an Australian women's Twenty20 cricket team based in East Perth, Western Australia. They compete in the Women's Big Bash League, and won their first championship in WBBL|07.
The 2017–18 Brisbane Heat Women's season was the third in the team's history. Coached by Peter McGiffin and captained by Kirby Short, the Heat finished the regular season of WBBL|03 in fifth place and failed to qualify for the finals. For the third year in a row, Beth Mooney won the team's Most Valuable Player award.
The 2017–18 Sydney Thunder Women's season was the third in the team's history. Coached by Joanne Broadbent and captained by Alex Blackwell, the Thunder finished the regular season of WBBL|03 in second place. They were subsequently knocked out of the tournament via a 27-run semi-final loss to the Perth Scorchers at Optus Stadium.
The 2019–20 Melbourne Renegades Women's season was the fifth in the team's history. Coached by Tim Coyle and captained by Jess Duffin, the Renegades finished the regular season of WBBL|05 in fourth place and qualified for finals. They were subsequently knocked out of the tournament by the defending champions, the Brisbane Heat, in a four-wicket semi-final loss at Allan Border Field.
The 2019–20 Brisbane Heat Women's season was the fifth in the team's history. Coached by Ashley Noffke and captained by Kirby Short, the Heat finished first on the WBBL|05 ladder. They proceeded to defeat the Adelaide Strikers in the final at Allan Border Field by six wickets, successfully defending their WBBL|04 title to claim a second consecutive championship. Keeper-batter Beth Mooney again earned Player of the Final honours, while Jess Jonassen won the Heat's Most Valuable Player award.
The 2019–20 Perth Scorchers Women's season was the fifth in the team's history. Coached by Lisa Keightley and captained by Meg Lanning, the Scorchers finished the regular season of WBBL|05 in third place and qualified for finals. They were subsequently knocked out of the tournament by the Adelaide Strikers in an eight wicket semi-final loss at Allan Border Field.
The 2018–19 Sydney Thunder Women's season was the fourth in the team's history. Coached by Joanne Broadbent and captained by Alex Blackwell, the Thunder finished second in the regular season of WBBL|04 and qualified for the playoffs. In an "incredible" semi-final, notable for a catch taken by Haidee Birkett on the last ball of the game to dismiss Nicola Carey, Sydney suffered a four-run defeat at the hands of the Brisbane Heat and were consequently eliminated from the tournament. It was thus the second-straight year in which they lost a knockout game to a lower-ranked opponent.
The 2018–19 Melbourne Stars Women's season was the fourth in the team's history. Coached by David Hemp and captained by Kristen Beams, they finished seventh in the regular season of WBBL|04 and failed to qualify for the finals.
The 2020–21 Women's Big Bash League season or WBBL|06 was the sixth season of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL), the semi-professional women's Twenty20 domestic cricket competition in Australia. The tournament took place from 25 October to 28 November 2020. It was played entirely in Sydney due to ongoing state border restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2020–21 Melbourne Stars Women's season was the sixth in the team's history. Coached by Trent Woodhill and captained by Meg Lanning, the Stars were runners-up of WBBL|06. Playing the entirety of the tournament in a bio-secure Sydney hub due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they finished the regular season on top of the points table. It was therefore the first time the Stars managed to qualify for the finals—a breakthrough especially notable after ending WBBL|05 in last place.
The 2020–21 Perth Scorchers Women's season was the sixth in the team's history. Coached by Shelley Nitschke and captained by Sophie Devine, the Scorchers played the entirety of WBBL|06 in a bio-secure Sydney hub due to the COVID-19 pandemic and, for the second year in a row, were eliminated in the semi-finals. In her first season with the Scorchers, Devine was named the league-wide Player of the Tournament, earning the same award that she won in WBBL|05 while playing for the Adelaide Strikers.
The 2020–21 Sydney Thunder Women's season is the sixth in the team's history. Coached by Trevor Griffin and captained by Rachael Haynes, the Thunder won the WBBL|06 championship on 28 November 2020. Playing the entirety of the tournament in a bio-secure Sydney hub due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they finished the regular season in third place before defeating the double defending champions, the Brisbane Heat, to record an epic semi-final boilover.
The 2021–22 Sydney Thunder Women's season was the seventh in the team's history. Coached by Trevor Griffin, the Thunder entered WBBL|07 as the defending champions but ended the regular season in seventh place on the ladder, recording their worst finishing position across the league's first seven editions. Due to ongoing border restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, they were not scheduled to play any games in their home state of New South Wales for the season. After captain Rachael Haynes announced she would be unlikely to participate in the season due to family reasons, Hannah Darlington was appointed to stand in as Haynes' replacement.
The 2022–23 Sydney Sixers Women's season was the eighth in the team's history. Coached by Charlotte Edwards and captained by Ellyse Perry, the Sixers finished the regular season of WBBL|08 in first position and set a new league record with eleven wins. They consequently qualified for their fifth Final appearance, returning to the knockout phase of the tournament for the first time since WBBL|04. In the championship decider, held at North Sydney Oval, the Sixers were defeated in an upset by the Adelaide Strikers.
The 2022–23 Sydney Thunder Women's season was the eighth in the team's history. Coached by Trevor Griffin, the Thunder finished the regular season of WBBL|08 in last place. After missing the entirety of WBBL|07 due to family reasons, captain Rachael Haynes returned to the team in 2022–23 for her final season, having announced her impending retirement from professional cricket.
The 2022–23 Perth Scorchers Women's season was the eighth in the team's history. Coached by Shelley Nitschke and captained by Sophie Devine, the Scorchers entered WBBL|08 as defending champions after claiming their maiden title in WBBL|07. They finished the regular season in fifth position and consequently failed to qualify for the finals.