Photo Credit: Sydney Thunder
Experienced batter keen to help Sydney Thunder’s young guns shine
Corinne Hall identified a combination of finding it impossible to say ‘no’ and her being ‘invested’ in Sydney’s Thunder’s playing group as the compelling reasons behind her decision to play in this season’s Weber Women’s Big Bash League.
Hall, who announced her retirement from Tasmania’s WNCL team after the team won its maiden title earlier this year, signed her one-year deal because she wanted to continue to help Thunder’s brigade of talented youngsters to fulfill their full potential.
“One of the reasons I’m playing on is because I’m invested in Thunder’s core group of players,” said Hall. “I loved passing on my knowledge and experience to them last season.
“Being around the squad’s younger players reminded me of when I started out with the NSW Breakers. While these players have the world at their feet, they don’t realise how good they are. I also like that they are very respectful of the game, and so humble.
“I really enjoyed their wanting to learn. They always asked questions and wanted to talk cricket. They have a great internal motivation to be the best they can, and they’re respectful of the team environment.
“I fed off their youthful energy, and I learnt lots from the girls. I had times last season when my confidence was wobbly and [the then 18-year-old] Phoebe Litchfield – my roommate – was brilliant. We had intelligent, funny conversations. She is wise beyond her years.
“I also had wonderful conversations with Tahlia Wilson. There are similarities about the way we play, and we often spoke about mind-strength and the way we play. I valued those chats.”
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Hall said her first season with Sydney Thunder made such an impression on her she had to play a second season in the club’s distinctive green playing strip.
“It was very tough to say ‘no’ because everyone at the club made me feel valued,” she said. “I loved playing around the group of not just great players, but great people.
“Last season I was quite disappointed with my performances. It took a little while for me to feel worthy of the group, I put too much pressure on myself. This year I want to play with some freedom.
“I took a lot from the WBBL and applied it to the WNCL and had what was one of my better seasons in that competition for quite a while. I’d like to go out this season and take the game on; play aggressively and play to my strengths.”
Hall is balancing her cricket with her art – she has published a book of her sketches: Victress: Women Who Paved the Way in Australian Sport – while she is also involved in an exciting pilot program for The Kindness Factory which is headed by the inspirational Kath Koschel, a former NSW cricketer.
“I’ll pick up the pencil during the WBBL and do some portraits,” she said of pursuing her artistic talent. “Meanwhile, the Kindness Factory is at the pilot phase of rolling out a curriculum in primary schools which is very exciting.
“We’re teaching kids a lot of different skills you don’t necessarily get taught – empathy, gratitude. I love it, apart from what the curriculum offers children it’s also nice to go to work with one of your best mates to talk about kindness.”
Sydney Thunder coach Trevor Griffin credited Hall with providing his squad with an extra dimension and depth.
“Corinne provides Sydney Thunder with a wealth of knowledge, she knows her own game really well and is brilliant around the entire squad,” said Griffin.
“She keeps the scoreboard moving when she’s out in the middle; she’s a quality person who is respected by everyone in the game, and we’re very glad that Corinne will again play for 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, Phoebe Litchfield, Olivia Porter, Lauren Smith, Tahlia Wilson
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.
