Photo Credit: Sydney Thunder
Sydney Thunder’s Ollie Davies described it as “exciting” to have his 19-year-old brother Joel – also a big-hitting batter – sign on with Sydney Thunder rather than the club’s archrival, the Sixers.
Joel Davies set the recent under-19 National Championships in Adeliade alight as he captained NSW Metro to its fourth title since the state split into Metro and Country. He amassed 458 runs across six matches at a stunning average of 114.5 to finish at the head of the leading run scorer’s list.
While he was dismissed for a golden duck in the decider, Davies passed 50 in each of his other five innings, including back-to-back centuries in the qualifying and preliminary finals.
Indeed, his crowning moment was smashing 11 sixes on his way to an unbeaten 185 against the Northern Territory – the same opponents Ollie savaged four years ago when he belted 17 sixes on his way to a double century.
“It’s exciting to have Joel here,” said Davies ahead of tomorrow night’s Sydney Thunder-Brisbane Heat match in Sydney.
“Initially I thought he might’ve been tempted to join the Sixers, but I got into his ear about playing for Sydney Thunder. I think he’s done enough to earn his spot in the squad after a very good tournament in Adelaide.”
“Joel is an energetic guy, and he’ll be willing to do anything for the team be it bringing out the drinks, or the behind-the-scenes things that sometimes don’t get recognised.
Apart from being the best fielder I’ve ever seen he can bat and bowl. He brings everything to the table.”
However, Davies – who has recorded a BBL strike rate of 144.97 from his 19 matches – said he made a personal appeal for Joel to opt to wear Thunder’s green battle colours when he was deciding upon which BBL club to join.
“I simply said to him ‘I want you to be with me; you could go to the Sixers, you could go to Thunder but I’m involved in Thunder, and I want you to travel with me and work with me’,” said Davies.
However, Davies said he realised during a game of backyard cricket on Boxing Day that just because they’re now playing together for Thunder, they’re still sibling rivals.
“He was bowling very quick – even though he bowls off-spin – and I was getting scared of being hit by the tennis ball!” laughed proud big brother Ollie.
Head of Thunder Andrew Gilchrist said the club had identified Joel Davies as a priority signing.
“Joel’s performances at the under-19 Championships confirmed he was a phenomenal talent, and through Ollie we know he comes from a good family,” said Gilchrist. “We’re thrilled to have him on our roster.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan leg spin bowler Usman Qadir, who was recruited to provide cover for the injured Tanveer Sangha, is in line to make his debut for Sydney Thunder against Brisbane Heat.
Qadir is no stranger to Australian conditions: He played in the 2012 U19 World Cup in Queensland and went on to play grade cricket in Sydney and Adelaide, before he later suited up for both WA and the Perth Scorchers for the 2018-19 season.
Once intending to claim Australian citizenship and forge an international career that way, he impressed in a PM’s XI one-day fixture against South Africa in 2018, taking 3-28.
He later returned to Pakistan and abandoned his Australian ambitions at his father’s urging, and a call-up for Pakistan followed – coincidentally for a tour of Australia.
Qadir has since played 23 T20s for Pakistan and a solitary ODI, although a thumb injury kept him sidelined as a reserve during the recent T20 World Cup.
Sydney Thunder squad v Brisbane Heat
Ben Cutting, Joel Davies, Oliver Davies, Brendan Doggett, Matthew Gilkes, Toby Gray, Chris Green (c), Alex Hales, Baxter Holt, Nathan McAndrew, Blake Nikitaras, Usman Qadir, Alex Ross, Rilee Rossouw, Daniel Sams, Gurinder Sandhu, Sam Whiteman.
Thunder play Brisbane Heat at 7.15pm (AEDT) at Sydney Showground Stadium on Tuesday, 27 December. The match will be broadcast live by Seven, Fox Cricket and Kayo.
Sydney Thunder BBL|12 Squad
Head Coach: Trevor Bayliss
Contracted Players: Ben Cutting, Joel Davies, Ollie Davies, Brendan Doggett, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Alex Hales, Baxter Holt, Nathan McAndrew, Blake Nikitaras, Alex Ross, Rilee Rossouw, Daniel Sams, Gurinder Sandhu, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, David Warner, Sam Whiteman.
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
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.
