Photo Credit: Sydney Thunder
Big-hitting South African match-winner excited to join Thunder
Sydney Thunder’s latest Weber Women’s Big Bash League recruit, damaging South African all-rounder Chloe Tryon, said she gained an appreciation for the spirit that drives her new team when she sat in the crowd and watched them win the league’s championship crown two years ago.
WBBL|08 Tickets on sale now! Adult tickets just $10 and Kids go FREE with a valid ticket.
Tryon said that memory – and her love of Thunder’s electric green battle colours – meant she was genuinely “excited” to receive an offer to represent the western Sydney team that calls Blacktown’s International Sportspark “home.”
“I went to the final because I was flying home with [South African international and former Thunder pace ace] Shabnim Ismail the following day,” said Tryon, who has represented her nation on 175 occasions.
“It was exciting to see them play. The atmosphere that night; the way you could see it was a team that played with their hearts on their sleeves… I loved seeing all of that. I’m looking forward to putting on the Sydney Thunder kit and playing alongside the girls.”
Tryon, who scored 412 runs and captured three wickets during her two-season stint with the Hobart Hurricanes during WBBL|05 and 06, said she was as equally excited to be playing alongside Thunder great, Rachael Haynes, who’ll retire from all formats at the end of WBBL|08.
“Rachael is a genuine legend of cricket,” said Tryon. “She has done so much for women’s cricket, and I’m very excited to be playing alongside her. I’m hoping we can win the title for her.”
As a cricketer who is renowned for smacking sixes, 28-year-old Tryon said Thunder fans could expect her to bring her renowned energy to the squad. She also aims to live up to her reputation as a BIG hitter who aims to always be a match-winner.
“I plan to bring a lot of energy,” she enthused. “I want to play good cricket. I’m just so keen to play alongside the Thunder girls, and I want to win matches.
“I’m feeling good about my game. When I go out to bat, I’ll want to hit ‘bombs,’ but in saying that I’ll always want to do what’s good for the team.”
Tryon said she didn’t believe declaring her intent to be a big-hitting match-winner placed extra pressure on her.
“The more time I have out in the middle the more chance I have to take games away,” she said. “[Thinking about yourself as a match-winner] is just about having confidence in your game. I don’t believe being a match-winner is about pressure, but [if it is], who doesn’t like pressure?”
“I’ll trust my preparation and give myself every opportunity to take away the game from our opposition. I’ll just adjust to the conditions as quickly as I can, and I’ll let everything take care of itself.”
Sydney Thunder coach Trevor Griffin said his previous experience of working with Tryon – allied with her ability – was among a long list of reasons why she was targeted to join Thunder.
“I had the pleasure of working alongside Chloe in The Hundred in 2021, and she made a great impression,” said Griffin. “She’s a hard-hitting all-rounder, she bowls left-arm spin and is coming off the back of a very good series against England.
“She’s also coming here after playing in the Caribbean Premier League, and I’m looking forward to having her play for Sydney Thunder.”
Sydney Thunder WBBL|08 Home Fixtures
Fri 14 Oct | Thunder v Hurricanes | Blacktown International Sportspark | 3:00pm
Sun 16 Oct | Thunder v Scorchers | Blacktown International Sportspark | 5:00pm
Tue 18 Oct | Hurricanes v Thunder | Blacktown International Sportspark | 7:05pm
Wed 2 Nov | Thunder v Sixers | Blacktown International Sportspark | 7:05pm
Tue 15 Nov | Thunder v Renegades | Manuka Oval | 7:10pm
Sun 20 Nov | Thunder v Strikers | North Sydney Oval | 5:15pm
Sydney Thunder WBBL|08 Squad
Head Coach: Trevor Griffin
Contracted Players: Rachael Haynes (c), Samantha Bates, Tammy Beaumont, Hannah Darlington, Jess Davidson, Corinne Hall, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Olivia Porter, Lauren Smith, Tahlia Wilson
Sydney Thunder BBL|12 Squad
Head Coach: Trevor Bayliss
Contracted Players: Ollie Davies, Brendan Doggett, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Alex Hales, Baxter Holt, Nathan McAndrew, Rilee Rossouw, Daniel Sams, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, David Warner, David Willey
Sydney Thunder BBL|12 Home Fixtures
Tue 13 Dec | Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Stars | Manuka Oval | 7:15pm
Fri 16 Dec | Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers | Sydney Showground Stadium | 8:15pm
Tue 27 Dec | Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat | Sydney Showground Stadium | 7:15pm
Sat 31 Dec | Sydney Thunder v Hobart Hurricanes | Lavington Sports Ground | 3:30pm
Sun 8 Jan | Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers | Sydney Showground Stadium | 7:15pm
Fri 13 Jan | Sydney Thunder v Perth Scorchers | Sydney Showground Stadium | 6:30pm
Thu 19 Jan | Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Renegades | Manuka Oval | 7:15pm
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Name of Author: Sydney Thunder
The Sydney Thunder is an Australian professional cricket team competing in the Big Bash League (BBL). Based at Sydney Showground Stadium, the Thunder, along with the Sydney Sixers, succeeded the New South Wales Blues from the defunct KFC Twenty20 Big Bash.