Naomi Dattani leads new arrivals at Thunder

Fi Morris and Tara Norris, who have left Western Storm and Southern Vipers respectively, have also signed two-year contracts with Paul Shaw's side

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Thunder have expanded their batch of professionally contracted players with the arrival of Naomi Dattani, Fi Morris and Tara Norris on two-year contracts ahead of the new season.

Dattani, who has played the last two women's Hundred campaigns for London Spirit, arrives following confirmation of her departure from Sunrisers at the end of last month

Left-armer Norris, part of the Southern Vipers side who won the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy twice and the Charlotte Edwards Cup, arrives to bolster the seam attack.

Morris, who has played for Welsh Fire and Southern Brave in The Hundred, signs from Western Storm having previously represented Vipers.

Nineteen-year-old allrounder Daisy Mullan has meanwhile signed professional terms. Thunder and Lancashire women have also confirmed the departure of Georgie Boyce after a four-year spell.

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Morris has more than 2,000 runs and 200 wickets in domestic cricket (Harry Trump/Getty Images)

The turnover of players brings the number of professionally contracted players in the Thunder ranks to eight. The new quartet join Ellie Threlkeld, Hannah Jones, Phoebe Graham and Laura Jackson.

Nat Brown, Rebecca Duckworth and Alice Dyson had bit-part roles last season and have all been released.

The news comes a week on from the England and Wales Cricket Board announcing a £3.5 million funding increase for professional women's domestic cricket.

The commitment will see the number of professional women's domestic cricketers climb to 80 in time for the start of the 2023 season.

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Norris is a United States international (Tony Marshall/Getty Images)

Thunder regional performance director of women's cricket David Thorley said: "We are delighted to welcome Naomi Dattani, Tara Norris and Fi Morris to the Thunder squad.

"Since the end of the season, we have been looking to add quality and depth to the squad and it’s great to have got these three signings over the line.

"All three players are experienced professionals, will strengthen our group and will help continue the development of our young squad at Emirates Old Trafford.

"We look forward to welcoming them to into the group this week ahead of another winter of full-time training for the squad, as we prepare for the 2023 campaign."


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