Sydney Thunder (WBBL)

One of eight founding WBBL teams, the Sydney Thunder are aligned with the men's team of the same name.{{cite web|url=http://www.cricket.com.au/news/womens-big-bash-league-to-align-with-mens-big-bash-league-clubs/2015-02-19|title=Eight teams announced for Women's BBL|access-date=10 December 2016}} At the official WBBL launch on 10 July 2015, Rene Farrell was unveiled as the team's first-ever player signing.{{Cite web|title=Major signings unveiled at WBBL launch|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/women-big-bash-league-wbbl-season-launch-meg-lanning-ellyse-perry/2015-07-10|website=cricket.com.au|language=en|access-date=2020-05-16}} Joanne Broadbent was appointed as inaugural coach, while Alex Blackwell became the inaugural captain.{{Cite web|title=Jo Broadbent to coach the Sydney Thunder in WBBL01|url=https://www.sydneythunder.com.au/video/broadbent_signing/2015-11-10|website=Sydney Thunder|language=en|access-date=2020-05-16}}{{Cite web|title=WBBL: All you need to know|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/feature/women-big-bash-league-wbbl-all-you-need-to-know-melbourne-stars-perth-scorchers/2015-12-03|website=cricket.com.au|language=en|access-date=2020-05-16}}

The Thunder played their first game on 6 December against the Sydney Sixers at Howell Oval in Penrith, winning by nine wickets with 40 balls remaining.{{Cite web|title=Lanning, Barty star in WBBL's first week {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/20426137/lanning-barty-star-wbbl-first-week|website=www.espncricinfo.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-16}}

The Thunder have combined with the Brisbane Heat to produce several "thrillers",{{Cite web|title=Heat triumph in semi-final thriller|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/match-report/sydney-thunder-brisbane-heat-wbbl-semi-final-report-highlights-streaming-video-scores/2019-01-19|website=cricket.com.au|language=en|access-date=2020-05-03}}{{Cite web|title=Thrilling finishes headline action-packed WBBL Sunday|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/wbbl05-women-big-bash-wrap-report-renegades-strikers-stars-hurricanes-thunder-heat/2019-10-20|website=cricket.com.au|language=en|access-date=2020-05-03}} including:

• 12 January 2019, Cazaly's Stadium: Responding to the Thunder's first innings total of 7/171, Heat opener Beth Mooney recorded her maiden WBBL century but was then dismissed in the 17th over. With the Heat still requiring 19 runs off the last twelve balls, Harmanpreet Kaur—having already claimed two wickets, including the stumping of Mooney, for just ten runs—came on to bowl her third over. The Heat, primarily through Delissa Kimmince, scored 13 runs off the over to swing the momentum once more. Laura Harris then hit the winning runs against the bowling of Nicola Carey with three wickets in hand and three balls remaining, making it Brisbane's highest successful run chase. The result helped to set up a semi-final encounter between the two teams on the following weekend.{{Cite web|title=Thunder lose out in Cairns thriller|url=https://www.sydneythunder.com.au/news/match-report/heat-thunder-wbbl04/2019-01-12|website=Sydney Thunder|language=en|access-date=2020-04-30}}{{Cite web|title=Mooney peaks at perfect time|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/beth-mooney-century-wbbl-big-bash-cairns-brisbane-heat-highlights-finals/2019-01-12|website=cricket.com.au|language=en|access-date=2020-04-30}}{{Cite web|title=Mooney smashes ton as Heat beat Thunder|url=https://www.brisbaneheat.com.au/news/match-report/wbbl-cairns/2019-01-12|website=Brisbane Heat|language=en|access-date=2020-04-30}}
• 19 January 2019, Drummoyne Oval: In the WBBL|04 semi-finals, the lower-ranked Heat posted a first innings total of 7/140. After struggling through the middle overs of the run chase, a late charge by the Thunder brought them back into the contest to leave a required five runs off the final delivery for victory. The last ball, sent down by spinner Jess Jonassen, was struck flat and cleanly to deep square leg by batter Nicola Carey. Jonassen immediately signalled disappointment as the ball set sail for beyond the boundary rope, therefore scoring six runs and clinching the match for the Thunder. However, Heat fielder Haidee Birkett made enough ground in time to take a "miracle"{{Cite web|title=‘Unbelievable’ Aussie cricket madness|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/haidee-birkett-takes-spectacular-catch-to-win-wbbl-semifinal/news-story/ed47f4d5f00e7121f7ec9d5b61cf88f3|date=2019-01-19|website=NewsComAu|language=en|access-date=2020-04-30}} catch just inside the field of play to knock the Thunder out of the tournament.{{Cite web|title=Nothing fake about Birkett's heroic catch|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/haidee-birkett-match-winning-catch-wbbl-semi-final-brisbane-heat-highlight-video/2019-01-19|website=cricket.com.au|language=en|access-date=2020-04-30}} The match, in conjunction with the other semi-final played later in the day, was hailed as a showcase of "the irrefutable rise of women's cricket"{{Cite news|last=Maurice|first=Megan|date=2019-01-20|title=Women's cricket the winner in WBBL semis|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/20/womens-cricket-the-winner-in-wbbl-semis|access-date=2020-04-30|issn=0261-3077}} and "sport with drama, skill and unpredictability – a potent recipe for success".{{Cite web|title=Given a Fairbreak, the WBBL has shown its true value|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/given-a-fairbreak-the-wbbl-has-shown-its-true-value-20190126-p50tu0.html|last=Lawson|first=Geoff|date=2019-01-26|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=2020-04-30}}
• 20 October 2019, North Sydney Oval: Thunder batters Alex Blackwell and Phoebe Litchfield set a new WBBL record for highest fourth-wicket partnership in their pursuit of the Heat's 9/150. The unbeaten 97-run stand, which got the Thunder over the line with seven balls to spare, was noted for the 20-year age gap between the two batting partners.{{Cite web|title=Recent Match Report - Brisbane Heat Women vs Sydney Thunder Women 6th Match 2019 {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/18042/report/1188388/sydney-thunder-women-vs-brisbane-heat-women-6th-match-womens-big-bash-league-2019-20|website=www.espncricinfo.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-03}} At 16 years and 185 days, Litchfield also set a new WBBL record as the youngest player to score a half-century.{{Cite web|title=A star is born as teenager Litchfield schools the Heat|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/feature/phoebe-litchfield-sydney-thunder-sixteen-high-school-womens-big-bash-wbbl05-highlights/2019-10-20|website=cricket.com.au|language=en|access-date=2020-05-03}}

The Thunder and the Perth Scorchers have met in two semi-finals:

• 21 January 2016, Adelaide Oval: Defending a total of 6/118, the Thunder restricted the Scorchers to 9/110 and claimed victory by eight runs.{{Cite web|title=Full Scorecard of Sydney Thunder Women vs Perth Scorchers Women 1st Semi-Final 2016 - Score Report {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/18042/scorecard/896547/sydney-thunder-women-vs-perth-scorchers-women-1st-semi-final-womens-big-bash-league-2015-16|website=www.espncricinfo.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-12}}{{Cite web|title=Rookies punch above their weight in Thunders' triumph {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/26159400/rookies-punch-their-weight-thunders-triumph|website=www.espncricinfo.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-12}}
• 1 February 2018, Perth Stadium: In the first innings, the Scorchers posted a total of 2/148. The Thunder were reeling by the 11th over of the run chase, having lost five wickets for just 46 runs. Fran Wilson piled on 46 runs from 28 balls late in the match but Perth, led by Emma King's 3/17, easily defended the target to win by 27 runs.{{Cite web|title=Recent Match Report - Perth Scorchers Women vs Sydney Thunder Women 1st Semi-Final 2018 {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/18042/report/1118528/sydney-thunder-women-vs-perth-scorchers-women-1st-semi-final-womens-big-bash-league-2017-18|website=www.espncricinfo.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-12}}

Due to a scheduling quirk, the two teams did not meet in the Thunder's home state of New South Wales until the 2020–21 Women's Big Bash League season (when the season was played entirely in Sydney due to uncertainty surrounding state border closures during the COVID-19 pandemic). From 2017 to 2018, five of their regular season encounters were played at Lilac Hill Park and characterised by close finishes, including:

• 7 January 2018: The Scorchers were well poised to chase down their target of 146 until a catch on the boundary by Thunder fielder Lisa Griffith dismissed Nicole Bolton for 71 in the 18th over. On the last ball of the match, Scorchers batter Mathilda Carmichael was run out by a metre while attempting a game-tying run, therefore securing victory for the Thunder by the narrowest of margins.{{Cite web|title=Full Scorecard of Sydney Thunder Women vs Perth Scorchers Women 29th Match 2018 - Score Report {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/18042/scorecard/1118500/sydney-thunder-women-vs-perth-scorchers-women-29th-match-womens-big-bash-league-2017-18|website=www.espncricinfo.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-12}}{{Cite web|title=Scorchers stun Thunder at WACA|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/match-report/wbbl-match-report-scorchers-thunder-villani-bolton-farrell-carey/2018-01-08|website=cricket.com.au|language=en|access-date=2020-05-12}}
• 29 December 2018: The Thunder were catapulted to a score of 5/179 by a late 49-run partnership between Harmanpreet Kaur and Stafanie Taylor (which included 21 runs off the 18th over against the bowling of Taneale Peschel, who had taken 1/12 in her first three overs). Eight overs into the second innings, captain Meg Lanning had scored 71 of the Scorchers' 83 runs. Although Lanning was run out for 76 in the tenth over, Elyse Villani went on to score 66 not out, guiding the Scorchers to a six-wicket victory with one ball remaining. In doing so, the Scorchers set a new WBBL record for highest successful run chase.{{Cite web|title=Scorchers Create History in Thrilling Win|url=https://www.perthscorchers.com.au/news/scorchers-scrape-home-against-thunder/2018-12-29|website=Perth Scorchers|language=en|access-date=2020-05-12}}

At the WBBL 02 season launch, Thunder captain Alex Blackwell said the Sydney Sixers "desperately want to beat us and we desperately want to beat them. It's set up to be a really good rivalry."{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/womens-big-bash-league-teammates-become-rivals-ahead-of-wbbl-20161209-gt7t2f.html|title=Women's Big Bash League: Teammates become rivals ahead of WBBL|last=Houlbrook-Walk|first=Myles|date=2016-12-09|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=2020-04-26}} In a joint media conference ahead of WBBL 05, Sixers captain Ellyse Perry said she considers the Thunder "our biggest rivals" while the Thunder's Rachel Priest claimed "it was a really intense rivalry right when I started with the team".{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/an-incredible-opportunity-perry-primed-for-derby-to-start-wbbl-20191017-p531qb.html|title='An incredible opportunity': Perry primed for derby to start WBBL|last=Weir|first=Ben|date=2019-10-17|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=2020-04-26}} Noteworthy matches include:

• 24 January 2016, Melbourne Cricket Ground: Having lost their first six games of the season, the Sixers stormed into the WBBL|01 final by winning nine consecutive matches.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/18042/preview/896551/sydney-sixers-women-vs-sydney-thunder-women-final-womens-big-bash-league-2015-16|title=Match Preview - Sydney Sixers Women vs Sydney Thunder Women, Women's Big Bash League 2016, Final {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com|website=ESPNcricinfo|language=en|access-date=2020-04-26}} Their streak would come to an end in a low-scoring championship decider plagued by "probably the worst fielding seen all tournament"{{Cite web|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/match-report/match-report-wbbl-final-sydney-thunder-sydney-sixers-ellyse-perry-alex-blackwell-mcg/2016-01-24|title=Thunder claim the first WBBL title|website=cricket.com.au|language=en|access-date=2020-04-26}} from both teams. Ultimately the Thunder scraped home by three wickets with three balls remaining to claim the inaugural Women's Big Bash title. Erin Osborne earned Player of the Final honours for her bowling figures of 3/21 off four overs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cricket/wbbl-final-sydney-thunder-claim-big-bash-win-over-sydney-sixers/news-story/965b8948d524954e530d1ffc18e7ee98|title=WBBL final: Sydney Thunder Claim Big Bash Win Over Sydney Sixers |website=The Australian|access-date=2020-04-26}}
• 14 January 2017, Sydney Cricket Ground: Defending a first innings total of 138, Sixers off-spinner Lauren Smith conceded seven runs in the last over to tie the game. With scores still level after the subsequent super over, the Thunder were awarded the win on the boundary count back rule. Despite the intense rivalry between the two teams, the match was noted for a sporting gesture by Thunder captain Alex Blackwell who, suspecting she interfered with the batter, withdrew an appeal that would have led to the dismissal of the Sixers' Sara McGlashan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/sara-mcglashan-run-out-alex-blackwell-withdrawn-appeal-law-27-sydney-sixers-thunder-wbbl/2017-01-14|title=Spirit of cricket alive and well in WBBL|website=cricket.com.au|language=en|access-date=2020-04-26}}
• 15 November 2019, Drummoyne Oval: The Sixers cruised to a comfortable 40-run victory, having also defeated the Thunder by 49 runs in the season opener—Perry top-scoring with 81 on both occasions. This marked the first time either team would sweep their fellow Sydneysiders in the regular season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/18042/report/1188382/sydney-sixers-women-vs-sydney-thunder-women-1st-match-womens-big-bash-league-2019-20|title=Recent Match Report - Sydney Sixers Women vs Sydney Thunder Women, Women's Big Bash League, 1st Match {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com|website=ESPNcricinfo|language=en|access-date=2020-04-26}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/match-report/sydney-sixers-thunder-wbbl05-womens-big-bash-highlights-report-scores/2019-10-18|title=Perry shines with bat and ball as Sixers cruise|website=cricket.com.au|language=en|access-date=2020-04-26}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/match-report/sydney-thunder-sixers-wbbl05-womens-big-bash-league-report-scores-watch-highlights/2019-11-15|title=Perry on song as Sixers smash Thunder|website=cricket.com.au|language=en|access-date=2020-04-26}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/perry-shines-as-sixers-smash-thunder-in-wbbl-derby-fizzer-20191115-p53b56.html|title=Perry shines as Sixers smash Thunder in WBBL derby fizzer|last=Rugari|first=Vince|date=2019-11-15|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=2020-04-26}}

{{See also|#Season summaries}}

There have been six captains in the Thunder's history, including matches featuring an acting captain.

Source:{{Cite web|title=Women's Big Bash League - Sydney Thunder Women Cricket Team Records & Stats {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/individual/most_matches_as_captain.html?id=720&team=5639&type=trophy|access-date=2021-08-23|website=Cricinfo}}

File:Performance Chart WBBL THU.svg]]

The squad of the Sydney Thunder for the 2025–26 Women's Big Bash League season as of 19 February 2025.{{Cite web |title=Player Movement Winodw: Where your club stands|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/4172425/wbbl10-womens-big-bash-contracting-embargo-lifted-updated-squads-strikers-heat-hurricanes-renegades-stars-scorchers-sixers-thunder|website=cricket.com.au|access-date=2025-02-19|language=en}}

• Players with international caps are listed in bold.

{{flagicon|AUS}} The following is a list of cricketers who have played for the Thunder after making their debut in the national women's team (the period they spent as both a Thunder squad member and an Australian-capped player is in brackets):

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|

• Alex Blackwell (WBBL{{!}}01–05)
• Lauren Cheatle (WBBL{{!}}01–02)
• Rene Farrell (WBBL{{!}}01–05)
• Rachael Haynes (WBBL{{!}}01–08)
• Erin Osborne (WBBL{{!}}01–02)
• Naomi Stalenberg (WBBL{{!}}02–05)
• Belinda Vakarewa (WBBL{{!}}03–04, 08)
• Nicola Carey (WBBL{{!}}04)
• Hannah Darlington (WBBL{{!}}07–10)
• Phoebe Litchfield (WBBL{{!}}08–10)

}}

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|

• {{flagicon|WIN}} Stafanie Taylor (WBBL{{!}}01–04)
• {{flagicon|IND}} Harmanpreet Kaur (WBBL{{!}}02–04)
• {{flagicon|NZ}} Rachel Priest (WBBL{{!}}03–05)
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Fran Wilson (WBBL{{!}}03)
• {{flagicon|PAK}} Nida Dar (WBBL{{!}}05)
• {{flagicon|RSA}} Shabnim Ismail (WBBL{{!}}05–06, 10)
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Tammy Beaumont (WBBL{{!}}06, 08)
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Heather Knight (WBBL{{!}}06, 09–10)
• {{flagicon|IND}} Smriti Mandhana (WBBL{{!}}07)
• {{flagicon|IND}} Deepti Sharma (WBBL{{!}}07)
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Issy Wong (WBBL{{!}}07)
• {{flagicon|NZL}} Lea Tahuhu (WBBL{{!}}08)
• {{flagicon|RSA}} Chloe Tryon (WBBL{{!}}08)
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Amy Jones (WBBL{{!}}08)
• {{flagicon|SRI}} Chamari Athapaththu (WBBL{{!}}09–10)
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Lauren Bell (WBBL{{!}}09)
• {{flagicon|RSA}} Marizanne Kapp (WBBL{{!}}09)
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Georgia Adams (WBBL{{!}}10)

}}

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|

• {{criconw|THA}} Suleeporn Laomi (WBBL{{!}}01){{cite web|title=Players Selected for WBBL Associate Rookie Program|url=http://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2015/news/91063/players-selected-for-wbbl-associate-rookie-program|website=International Cricket Council website|publisher=International Cricket Council|access-date=30 December 2016|date=10 December 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225150308/http://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2015/news/91063/players-selected-for-wbbl-associate-rookie-program|archive-date=25 December 2016|df=dmy-all}}
• {{criconw|PNG}} Konio Oala (WBBL{{!}}02){{cite web|title=Associate Rookies named for Rebel WBBL 02|url=http://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2016/media-releases/96850/associate-rookies-named-for-rebel-wbbl02|website=International Cricket Council website|publisher=International Cricket Council|access-date=23 December 2016|date=15 November 2016}}
• {{criconw|NED}} Sterre Kalis (WBBL{{!}}03){{cite web|author1=Cricket Network|title=ICC rookies bound for the WBBL|url=http://www.cricket.com.au/news/wbbl-icc-rookies-kim-garth-ireland-scotland-netherlands-papua-new-guide-netherlands-bangladesh/2017-11-29|website=cricket.com.au|access-date=29 November 2017|date=29 November 2017}}

}}

{{hatnote|Statistics and awards updated through to the end of WBBL{{!}}08}}

• Champions: 2 – WBBL 01, WBBL 06
• Runners-up: 0
• Minor premiers: 1 – WBBL 01
• Win–loss record:

• Highest score in an innings: 5/212 (20 overs) vs Adelaide Strikers, 1 November 2024
• Highest successful chase: 3/173 (19 overs) vs Perth Scorchers, 15 November 2024
• Lowest successful defence: 9/104 (20 overs) vs Melbourne Stars, 17 January 2016
• Largest victory:
• Batting first: 64 runs vs Adelaide Strikers, 1 November 2024
• Batting second: 50 balls remaining vs Melbourne Renegades, 27 December 2016
• Longest winning streak: 5 matches
• Longest losing streak: 6 matches

Source:{{Cite web|title=Women's Big Bash League Records - Cricket's Remarkable Feats|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/trophy/women-s-big-bash-league-720?team=5639|website=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2024-12-08|language=en}}

• Most runs: Rachael Haynes – 2,142
• Highest score in an innings: Smriti Mandhana – 114* (64) vs Melbourne Renegades, 17 November 2021
• Highest partnership: Smriti Mandhana and Tahlia Wilson – 125* vs Melbourne Renegades, 17 November 2021
• Most wickets: Samantha Bates – 120
• Best bowling figures in an innings: Hannah Darlington – 5/10 (4 overs) vs Melbourne Stars, 10 November 2023

• Most catches (fielder): Phoebe Litchfield – 41
• Most dismissals (wicket-keeper): Tahlia Wilson – 36 (20 catches, 16 stumpings)

Source:

• Player of the Match:
• Stafanie Taylor – 8
• Alex Blackwell – 7
• Samantha Bates – 6
• Chamari Athapaththu, Hannah Darlington, Rene Farrell, Rachael Haynes, and Heather Knight – 4
• Shabnim Ismail, Sammy-Jo Johnson, and Naomi Stalenberg – 3
• Nicola Carey, Harmanpreet Kaur, Phoebe Litchfield, Rachel Priest, and Georgia Voll – 2
• Lauren Cheatle, Lisa Griffith, Smriti Mandhana, Erin Osborne, Deepti Sharma, Lauren Smith, Belinda Vakarewa, Tahlia Wilson, and Issy Wong – 1
• WBBL Player of the Final:
• Erin Osborne – WBBL{{!}}01
• Shabnim Ismail – WBBL{{!}}06
• WBBL Player of the Tournament:
• Chamari Athapaththu – WBBL{{!}}09
• WBBL Team of the Tournament:
• Samantha Bates (2) – WBBL{{!}}06, WBBL{{!}}10
• Hannah Darlington (2) – WBBL|06, WBBL{{!}}07
• Rene Farrell (2) – WBBL{{!}}01, WBBL{{!}}03
• Alex Blackwell – WBBL|01
• Stafanie Taylor – WBBL{{!}}04
• Heather Knight – WBBL|06
• Chamari Athapaththu – WBBL{{!}}09
• Phoebe Litchfield – WBBL|10
• Georgia Voll – WBBL|10
• WBBL Young Gun Award:
• Lauren Cheatle – WBBL{{!}}01
• Hannah Darlington – WBBL{{!}}05
• Phoebe Litchfield – WBBL{{!}}07

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{{Reflist}}

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{{Sydney Thunder}}

{{Sydney Thunder WBBL squad}}

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