Photo Credit: Sydney Thunder
Sydney Thunder have added a mix of new and familiar faces to their WBBL|10 and BBL|14 squads following Sunday night’s Overseas Player Drafts.
In the WBBL Draft, the club opted to retain England captain Heather Knight. Selected by the Hobart Hurricanes at Pick 2, Thunder activated their retention pick to keep the world-class all-rounder in lime green for the upcoming season.
Knight will be reunited with WBBL|06 title-winning teammate Shabnim Ismail. Thunder poached the South African speedster from the Hurricanes with Pick 13.
WBBL|09 Player of the Tournament Chamari Athapaththu’s pre-signing was finalised in the third round with Pick 20. The Sri Lankan superstar has committed to the club for the next three seasons.
The only club to draft four overseas players, Thunder completed their haul with England batter Georgia Adams, who was taken at Pick 29.
Sydney Thunder WBBL|10 Draft selections:
- Pick 2: Heather Knight (England)
- Pick 13: Shabnim Ismail (West Indies)
- Pick 20: Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka)
- Pick 29: Georgia Adams (England)
Sydney Thunder WBBL|10 Squad (to date):
Georgia Adams, Chamari Athapaththu, Sam Bates, Hannah Darlington, Sienna Eve, Saskia Horley, Shabnim Ismail, Heather Knight, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Claire Moore, Taneale Peschel, Georgia Voll, Tahlia Wilson.
In the BBL Draft, Thunder secured New Zealand quick Lockie Ferguson with Pick 4 and West Indian all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford with Pick 22.
Ferguson made history in June by recording the most economical figures in men’s T20 World Cup history, producing a remarkable four-over spell of 3-0.
Rutherford also made his mark in the same tournament, amassing 121 runs at a strike rate of 147.56, highlighted by a match-winning 68* from 39 deliveries.
BBL|14 will be the first Big Bash appearance for both players.
The duo will be joined by English star Sam Billings whose pre-signing was finalised with Pick 13. After two seasons with the Brisbane Heat, Billings will return to Thunder on a multi-year deal. The wicketkeeper-batter will be available for the entire season, including finals.
Sydney Thunder BBL|14 Draft selections:
- Pick 4: Lockie Ferguson (New Zealand)
- Pick 13: Sam Billings (England)
- Pick 22: Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies)
Sydney Thunder BBL|14 Squad (to date):
Wes Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Sam Billings, Ollie Davies, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Gilkes, Chris Green, Liam Hatcher, Sam Konstas, Nic Maddinson, Nathan McAndrew, Sherfane Rutherford, Will Salzmann, Daniel Sams, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, David Warner.
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