The landmark 10th edition of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) will commence on the 27th of October 2024 and conclude on the 1st of December 2024. The 31-year-old all-rounder Sammy-Jo Johnson has decided to stay with the Sydney Thunder for one more season by signing a contract with the franchise for WBBL 10.
She started her Women’s Big Bash League career representing the Brisbane Heat in the inaugural edition of the tournament in the year 2015. She made her WBBL debut on 5th December 2015 against the Melbourne Stars. She stayed with the Brisbane Heat till the year 2019. She scored 417 runs at a strike rate of 122.64 in 39 innings including one half-century. Apart from her exploits with the bat, she also picked up 53 wickets at an impressive economy of 6.50 in 60 innings with the ball during her time with the Brisbane Heat.
She moved to Sydney Thunder in the 6th edition of the tournament in the year 2020. She has scored 475 runs at a strike rate of 106.74 in 41 innings with the bat for the Thunder so far. Apart from her exploits with the bat, she has also picked up 53 wickets at an economy of 7.63 in 48 innings with the ball so far for the Thunder.
“You can’t substitute experience, and it helps when that experience takes regular wickets and hits them hard and far. We expect to be challenging for a WBBL title this season and having Sammy-Jo amongst the group again will only strengthen our chances,” said Sydney Thunder General Manager Trent Copeland on what Sammy-Jo Johnson brings to the table for the franchise.
Sydney Thunder led by skipper Heather Knight had a decent campaign in the 9th edition of the tournament as they finished fourth on the points table with 15 points from 14 games, including 7 victories, 6 defeats, and one washed-out game against the Hobart Hurricanes last year. However, their campaign in the 9th edition of the tournament came to an end when they ended up on the losing side against the Brisbane Heat led by skipper Jess Jonassen by 44 runs in the Eliminator.
The 31-year-old all-rounder Sammy-Jo Johnson was the 2nd highest wicket-taker for her side last season with 12 wickets to her name at an economy of 8.22 in 11 innings for her side. Her best performance with the ball came on 24th November 2023 against the Brisbane Heat when she returned with match figures of 4-0-39-3.
To date, she has played 115 matches, scoring 892 runs in 80 innings in her Big Bash career so far. Her tally of runs includes a couple of half-centuries with the bat. Apart from her exploits with the bat, she has also picked up 106 wickets with the ball. Her best performance with the ball came on 7th November 2020, while representing the Sydney Thunder against the Melbourne Renegades, returning with brilliant match figures of 4-0-26-4.
“It’s got that real family vibe and once the hill is packed it feels like everyone is right on top of you, so hopefully we can get lots of Thunder fans out to watch those games,” Sammy-Jo Johnson spoke about the atmosphere when Sydney Thunder plays their matches on their home ground.
The Thunders picked up Georgia Adams, Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu, and the veteran South African speedster Shabnim Ismail in the overseas draft on 1st September, earlier this month.
Sydney Thunder Squad for WBBL 10 (till date):
Georgia Adams, Chamari Athapaththu, Sam Bates, Hannah Darlington, Sienna Eve, Saskia Horley, Shabnim Ismail, Heather Knight, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Claire Moore, Taneale Peschel, Georgia Voll, Tahlia Wilson
Sydney Thunder will kickstart their campaign in the landmark 10th edition on 28th October 2024 in the 4th match of the tournament against the Hobart Hurricanes at the Bellerive Oval, Hobart from 12:40 PM IST.
(Quotes sourced from Sydney Thunder Press Release)