Photo Credit: Perth Scorchers
Perth Scorchers have added more firepower to their top-order, signing classy left-hander Sam Fanning for the upcoming KFC BBL|14 season.
It is Fanning’s first full contract with the Club, having joined Perth’s squad towards the end of BBL|13 as captain Ashton Turner’s Injury Replacement Player.
A few weeks later, Fanning opened the batting on BBL debut during the Eliminator against Adelaide Strikers at Optus Stadium and showed exciting signs by striking 31 runs during the Power Play.
Although Fanning is a top-order batter by trade in limited overs cricket, the 23-year-old remains capable of influencing games from the middle-order.
He displayed as much when facing a strong Indian side at the WACA Ground ahead of the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Batting at No.6 for WA, Fanning parried the threat posed by world-class bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Axar Patel, Deepak Hooda and Yuzvendra Chahal to score 59 from 53 deliveries. This team-high contribution propelled WA from 4-12 to 6-115.
Fanning is regarded as an emerging leader at WA Cricket and will captain the Scorchers during their maiden Top End T20 Series campaign in Darwin, which begins on Friday against hosts Northern Territory Strike.
Reflecting on his new Perth Scorchers deal, Fanning said:
“I got a taste of things in that final last season. It was all a bit of a blur, to be honest, but I absolutely loved the experience. Our Members and fans are unreal and Optus Stadium is incredible.
“I feel my white ball game has evolved the last couple of seasons, particularly when it comes to taking the game on from the start. That said, there’s still heaps to learn and I’m in the right place. We have a great coaching group and some seriously talented players.
“For now, I’m just keen to get stuck into the Top End Series. Captaining the group in Darwin is an awesome opportunity and a privilege. We’ll head there with a strong group of players and look to make our mark early in the season.”
Perth Scorchers Squad for the 2024 Top End T20 Series
Sam Fanning (Perth CC, Perth Scorchers BBL and WA) ©
Keaton Critchell (Midland-Guildford CC and WA)
Joel Curtis (Perth CC and WA Cricket Academy)
Baxter Holt (Fremantle CC and WA)
Luke Holt (Willetton CC and WA Cricket Academy)
Bryce Jackson (Melville CC and WA)
Matthew Kelly (Claremont-Nedlands CC, Perth Scorchers BBL and WA)
Lucas Martin (Subiaco-Floreat CC and WA Cricket Academy)
Declan Power (Melville CC and WA Cricket Academy)
Jhye Richardson (Fremantle CC, Perth Scorchers BBL and WA)
Matthew Spoors (Scarborough CC and WA Cricket Academy)
Josh Vernon (Midland-Guildford CC and WA)
Corey Wasley (Rockingham-Mandurah CC and WA)
Teague Wyllie (Rockingham-Mandurah CC and WA)
Perth Scorchers Top End T20 Series Fixtures (all times AWST):
Friday 9 August versus NT Strike at 4:30PM.
Saturday 10 August versus Pakistan A at 1:30PM.
Monday 12 August versus ACT at 12:30PM.
Wednesday 14 August versus Melbourne Renegades at 8:30AM.
Thursday 15 August versus Adelaide Strikers at 1:30PM.
Saturday 17 August versus Bangladesh A at 12:30PM.
Sunday 18 August: Semifinals one and two at 8:30AM.
Sunday 18 August: Grand Final at 2:30PM.
Name of Author: Perth Scorchers
The Perth Scorchers are an Australian men’s Twenty20 cricket team competing in the Big Bash League. Based in Perth, Western Australia, they wear an orange uniform and play their home games at Perth Stadium.
