After recently signing her first professional contract with Cricket New South Wales (NSW), teen spinner Sienna Eve from Newcastle, two hours north of Western Sydney, has signed up with the Sydney Thunder for the upcoming 10th edition of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL).
Rising through the ranks, left-arm orthodox bowler Sienna Eve claimed 10 wickets at an average of seven during the 2023-24 Under-19 Female National Championships. Her standout performance earned her the prestigious Alex Blackwell Medal for Female NSW Country Player of the Season. Subsequently, earlier this year, Sienna was also selected for Australia’s Under-19 squad for their tour of Sri Lanka, a tri-series including England.
With 4 wickets from 3 T20s and an economical performance (0/22 off 5 overs) in her only One Dayer on that tour, Sienna made a strong impression. However, she was not selected for the 15-player squad for the upcoming home Under-19 tri-series featuring Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
However, at the Thunder, Sienna will team up with Chamari Athapaththu, Samantha Bates, Saskia Horley, Georgia Voll, and Tahlia Wilson, as well as Phoebe Litchfield and Hannah Darlington, with whom she previously played in the NSW Primary Schools Sports Association (PSSA) competition.
Expressing her excitement about the signing, Sienna said, “Incredible! Still a very surreal experience. I’m so excited to be able to be surrounded by so many amazing players, and very grateful for the opportunity.”
On rejoining Phoebe and Hannah, she shared, “It’s really helpful having the likes of Phoebe (Litchfield) and Hannah (Darlington) in the team. They’ve come through a similar path to how I started, and having people around you that are a similar age really makes the experience more relatable.”
Sydney Thunder General Manager Trent Copeland emphasized the club’s focus on developing emerging talent, with this signing exemplifying their commitment.
He said, “This is a special moment for both Sienna and the club. Sienna’s signing is a testament to her hard work, and we’re thrilled to support her as she takes this next big step in her career. We’re committed to developing our young players into successful cricketers, but more importantly great people. This is just the beginning of Sienna’s journey, and we’re excited to see where her talent and dedication will take her.”
Sydney Thunder squad for WBBL 10 (so far):
Chamari Athapaththu, Samantha Bates, Hannah Darlington, Sienna Eve, Saskia Horley, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Claire Moore, Taneale Peschel, Georgia Voll, Tahlia Wilson
The WBBL players’ draft is scheduled for September 1, where the Sydney Thunder can retain star batter Heather Knight’s services and their draft picks are 5, 13, 20, and 29.
