The only way is up for Sydney Thunder after a dismal WBBL08 campaign, writes MATTHEW LUDDINGTON. Their squad mixes international experience with promising young players, and fans should be optimistic
After a disastrous season where they only recorded one win, Sydney Thunder have turned to experience to steady the ship.
Following the retirement of Rachael Haynes, England World Cup-winning captain Heather Knight has taken over the captaincy and will be reunited with vastly experienced head coach Lisa Keightley.
Alongside Knight, other overseas picks include South Africa international Marizanne Kapp, who has vast experience of winning franchise trophies, and young England fast bowler Lauren Bell. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu is with the squad as an overseas replacement player.
The only way is up for Thunder, and with a young talented squad ready to make their mark, their fans should be hopeful of a much-improved campaign.
Coach: Lisa Keightley
Captain: Heather Knight
How strong is the batting?
Last season, Thunder struggled to make an impact with the bat. However, this year marks a significant overhaul as Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones, Haynes, and Chloe Tryon have departed.
Phoebe Litchfield, who demonstrated her prowess as a destructive No.6 for Australia against West Indies, is expected to move back to the top of the order when playing for Thunder. The 20-year-old scored an impressive 280 runs and notched up two half-centuries last season, standing head and shoulders above her teammates in WBBL08.
Tahlia Wilson, who made a strong impression while representing Australia A against England during the summer, may partner with Litchfield at the top of the order.
Knight, who has scored 1,799 runs in 71 WBBL appearances prior to this season, will bolster the top order, while Kapp could bat as high as No.4, adding experience and impetus to the lineup.
21-year-old Anika Learoyd might get an opportunity in the middle order. She showcased her skills by scoring a century in the WNCL last year. Saskia Horley who has represented Scotland in seven WT20Is could also feature. 19-year-old Claire Moore impressed at the Under-19 World Cup and will be hoping for a chance, and don't count out Sammy-Jo Johnson, who can be destructive on her day.
England captain Heather Knight is back for a second stint in Thunder green [Mark Kolbe/Getty Images]
How strong is the bowling?
Thunder struggled with their bowling last season, but the arrival of Kapp and Bell provides a significant boost. They are likely to take the new ball.
Samantha Bates, a left-arm spinner, was Sydney Thunder's top wicket-taker in the previous season, claiming 12 wickets. She will again be partnered by off-spinner Lauren Smith, who took 11 wickets. This spin duo's primary objective will be to apply pressure and restrict opposition batters during the middle overs. Additionally, Knight's off-spin might be a valuable asset.
Last season, medium pacers Hannah Darlington and Johnson struggled with their economy rates. However, by sparing them from the powerplay overs and death overs and entrusting those phases to Bell and Kapp, Thunder's bowling unit is poised to perform more effectively.
Why should the fans be excited?
Keightey coached the England team from 2019 to 2022 and is familiar with Knight, and together they make an ideal leadership duo to mentor the young Thunder players this season.
Litchfield is on the path to becoming a regular for Australia while promising talents like Moore, Learoyd, and Wilson should receive ample opportunities with the bat.
The addition of Knight and Kapp provides much-needed experience and stability, while Bell adds quality to the bowling attack alongside Kapp. This combination creates a well-rounded team with a mix of youthful exuberance and seasoned expertise, a solid top-order batting lineup, good fast bowling options and two quality spinners.
Fans can look forward to watching future stars in action, and it's reasonable to anticipate a significantly improved performance from the team compared to the previous year.
South Africa allrounder Marizanne Kapp is among the new faces at Sydney Thunder [Ashley Vlotman/Getty Images]
Why fans should be worried?
Keightley's biggest challenge is changing the mood in the camp after last season's dismal campaign and there will be pressure on her side to start strongly.
In comparison to other teams, Thunder may find themselves wanting in terms of batting firepower, potentially placing a heavy reliance on Kapp, Knight, and Litchfield for scoring runs.
Keeping both Bell and Kapp fit will also be integral to balancing their bowling attack.
Squad: Hannah Darlington, Ebony Hoskin, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Claire Moore, Olivia Porter, Lauren Smith, Marizanne Kapp, Heather Knight, Lauren Bell, Tahlia Wilson, Saskia Horley, Paris Bowdler, Chamari Athapaththu
Fixtures: October 22 – Sydney Sixers (h, 5.25pm), October 26 – Melbourne Renegades (h, 3pm), October 30 – Hobart Hurricanes (a, 6.10pm), November 1 - Melbourne Renegades (a, 3pm), November 4 - Melbourne Stars (a, 3pm), November 6 - Brisbane Heat (h, 6.10pm), November 9 - Sydney Thunder (a, 3pm), November 10 - Melbourne Stars (h, 3.20pm), November 12 - Perth Scorchers (a, 10.10am), November 15 - Adelaide Strikers (a, 3.30pm), November 18 – Perth Scorchers (h, 3pm), November 21 - Adelaide Strikers (h, 3pm), November 24 - Brisbane Heat (a, 3.40pm), November 26 - Sydney Sixers (a, 3.40pm)
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