ELIZABETH BOTCHERBY: The 23-year-old wicketkeeper-batter has scored 343 runs and completed 19 dismissals for Thunder since the regional restructuring and captained the side on their pre-season tour to Dubai
Ellie Threlkeld has been appointed captain of Thunder for the 2022 season, replacing Alex Hartley.
The spinner stepped down from the role in April after two seasons at the helm. She captained Thunder in 18 of their 19 matches in 2020 and 2021 (Kate Cross led the side in the Charlotte Edwards Cup against Sunrisers in July 2021 ahead of her captaincy stint in The Hundred), winning six matches and tying one.
Opening batter Georgie Boyce will serve as vice-captain.
Despite her young age, wicketkeeper-batter Threlkeld was the obvious choice to take over the reins.
The 23-year-old is Lancashire born and bred, joining the county set-up at Under-11s and captaining various age-group sides. She made her senior debut as a 14-year-old in 2013 before going on to represent Lancashire Thunder in the Kia Super League, featuring in all 30 matches, and the rebranded Thunder side following the regional restructuring of women’s domestic cricket in 2020. For the latter, she has scored 343 runs and completed 19 dismissals in as many appearances.
Over the past decade, she has amassed 94 senior appearances for the Red Rose county and been ever-present on the team sheet for the various Thunder sides, even maintaining her place in the XI when Sarah Taylor usurped her behind the stumps in 2017.
Threlkeld represented Manchester Originals in last season's Hundred competition (Harry Trump/Getty Images)
Earlier in 2022, Threlkeld skippered Thunder on their pre-season tour of Dubai before leading Lancashire to Women’s County T20 glory on May 8 – both of which, she believes, were valuable experiences as she prepares for her new role.
"[Captaincy] is something I’ve always wanted,” Threlkeld told The Cricketer. "I did quite a lot of it at age-group level with Lancashire, so I have some experience at it. It’s always been a goal of mine, but I didn’t think it would come about this quickly so I’m really happy.
"I’ve had quite a lot of positive feedback from the players and coaches which has definitely given me the confidence and belief that I’m the right person for the job.
"Alex has obviously stepped down but she’s still around and that’s going to be massive for me. Kate [Cross], Alex and Sophie Ecclestone are brilliant; they’ve played so much international cricket, they have a lot of knowledge and I’m going to try and learn as much off those players as I can."
Thunder have been something of a mixed bag during the past two seasons, with impressive team performances against the likes of Northern Diamonds in the Charlotte Edwards Cup and South East Stars in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, and individual highlights, such as Emma Lamb’s Emirates Old Trafford century, offset by inconsistency.
But although they are currently some way behind the likes of two-time List A champions Southern Vipers and serial finalists Northern Diamonds, Threlkeld is not going to make wholesale changes this season. Instead, she believes she has a team of future stars on her hands.
"I don’t think much needs to change," she said. "We’ve got a really young team who’ve been together for a few years and will hopefully stay together for five or so years. It’s a really good chance to start afresh and build something special.
"The group of players we’ve got is really exciting. Coming back into the environment in Dubai, I was really impressed with how people had improved over the winter and the group of players we’ve got can really achieve something special."
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