The Sydney Thunder have now made six knockout appearances in Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 10-year history, this season finishing at the 3rd spot in the league stages of the tournament. Notably, the Thunder signaled a fresh start by appointing the talented 21-year-old youngster Phoebe Litchfield as the new skipper of the club ahead of the start of the landmark 10th edition of the tournament.
Phoebe had big shoes to fill as she was replacing a seasoned campaigner in Heather Knight at the helm with the Thunder and didn’t disappoint as she led the Thunder brilliantly showcasing her excellent leadership traits. Fresh off this success and ahead of the finals series, the Thunder’s new skipper Phoebe Litchfield has decided to extend her contract for another three seasons with the Lime Green Brigade till WBBL 13.
“I’m so proud to call Sydney Thunder my home, and I couldn’t be happier to commit to the club for another three years. This team means so much to me, and I believe we’re building something really special here,” Phoebe Litchfield expressed her delight at extending her stay at the Sydney Thunder for the next few seasons.
Phoebe led from the front with the bat this season, as she is currently the 2nd highest run-scorer for the Sydney Thunder and the 5th highest run-scorer in the ongoing 10th edition with 281 runs at a strike rate of 135.74 and a decent average of 28.10 in 10 innings. Her best performance with the bat for her side so far in the tournament came on 28th October 2024 when she scored a half-century (51 off 37 balls) against the Hobart Hurricanes at the Bellerive Oval, Hobart.
“Phoebe Litchfield signing a three-year extension is about as good a news as this club could possibly deliver leading into the finals. Phoebe is our leader—she’s vibrant, the energy she brings, the culture she’s created just through her actions, and loving the game like she does. There really wasn’t many things more important to me and this club than securing Phoebe as our leader for the future,” shared the Thunder General Manager Trent Copeland about the qualities Litchfield brings to the group and is pleased to secure her services as a future leader.
Phoebe started her WBBL career while representing the Sydney Thunder in the 5th edition of the tournament, making her debut on 18th October 2019 against the Sydney Sixers at the North Sydney Oval, Sydney. She has scored 1,493 runs at a strike rate of 115.93 and a decent average of 24.88 in 73 innings with the bat for her side. Her tally of runs includes 6 half-centuries in 78 games so far.
Her best performance with the bat for the Thunder came on 30th October 2023 against the Hobart Hurricanes when she scored a brilliant half-century (68 off 52) albeit in a losing cause at a sensational strike rate of 161.90 at the University of Tasmania Stadium, Launceston.
Sydney Thunder will be up against the Hobart Hurricanes led by skipper Elyse Villani in a knockout game at the Drummoyne Oval, Sydney. The winner of the clash will progress to the Challenger to face the Brisbane Heat on 29th November 2024 at the Allan Border Field, Brisbane from 1:45 PM IST.
(Quotes sourced from Sydney Thunder press release)
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