Photo Credit: Sydney Thunder
Young gun commits to the Thunder Nation for two more years
On the eve of her first WBBL final, teenage sensation Phoebe Litchfield has re-signed with Sydney Thunder for two more years.
Thunder will meet the table-topping Melbourne Stars in the WBBL|06 decider at North Sydney Oval on Saturday night and Litchfield could not enjoy more being part of the Thunder set-up.
“I’m living my best life right now. Just enjoying it so much,” she said. “I keep pinching myself that I’m playing with the Australian vice-captain and the English captain which is pretty crazy.
“(Re-signing) gives you a lot of confidence, one they want me back which is nice, but also it’s a wonderful team and I’m just excited.”
The 17-year-old’s maturity was again on show in the Thunder’s semi-final win against the Brisbane Heat on Thursday night with a clutch run out of fellow teenager Georgia Voll that swung the momentum.
“I was a bit worried when Laura Kimmince was teeing off. We just had something in us, we knew that it was only one or two wickets away and we pulled off a miraculous win.”
The Year 11 student from Orange has also taken the most catches of any player in WBBL|06 with 12.
During her first two seasons, Litchfield has scored 360 runs in 24 matches, but it is when and how she has scored those runs that has impressed many observers.
Her brilliance against the Sixers in the Sydney Smash at Sydney Showground Stadium this season – hitting 46 from 36 balls including three boundaries in the final over to almost steal victory – is one example.
Thunder fans will never forget her 52 not out from 48 balls in just her second match that saw her become the youngest player to score a WBBL fifty at just 16 years of age.
The fearless attitude with which Thunder have played this season, and head coach Trevor Griffin’s message of being true to yourself, has really helped Litchfield’s development in her second season of WBBL.
“Trevor telling me to play my own game is very comforting, it’s definitely helped my game,” she said.
“A lot of times in the second season, a lot of people know about you and know things about your game that can potentially lead to your downfall. I’ve been able to bring out the reverse sweep especially this year and just play my own game.”
The final release of tickets for the WBBL final at North Sydney Oval on Saturday night are now on sale. Adults $10, kids 16 and under free.
Sydney Thunder Memberships
Memberships start from $40 and offer access to a host of exclusive benefits, including priority access to BBL|10 tickets plus a 20% discount. View all packages here.
For more information or to join the Thunder Nation, please contact our Membership Team on 02 8302 6092.
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.
