The 2022–23 Sydney Thunder Women's season was the eighth in the team's history. Coached by Trevor Griffin, the Thunder finished the regular season of WBBL08 in last place. After missing the entirety of WBBL07 due to family reasons, captain Rachael Haynes returned to the team in 2022–23 for her final season, having announced her impending retirement from professional cricket.
Squad Each 2022–23 squad was made up of 15 active players. Teams could sign up to five 'marquee players', with a maximum of three of those from overseas. Marquees were defined as any overseas player, or a local player who holds a Cricket Australia national contract at the start of the WBBL|08 signing period.
Personnel changes made ahead of the season included:
English marquee Issy Wong departed the Thunder, signing with the Hobart Hurricanes. Indian marquees Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma did not re-sign with the Thunder. English marquee Tammy Beaumont returned to the Thunder after a season's absence. English marquee Amy Jones signed with the Thunder, having previously played for the Sydney Sixers and Perth Scorchers. South African marquee Chloe Tryon signed with the Thunder, having previously played for the Hobart Hurricanes. New Zealand marquee Lea Tahuhu signed with the Thunder as a replacement player, having previously played for the Melbourne Renegades. Kate Peterson departed the Thunder, signing with the Sydney Sixers. Belinda Vakarewa returned to the Thunder, departing the Hobart Hurricanes. Saskia Horley returned to the Thunder as a replacement player. Horley was approved as a local signing due to her permanent residence in Australia, despite having recently played international cricket for Scotland.
The table below lists the Thunder players and their key stats (including runs scored, batting strike rate, wickets taken, economy rate, catches and stumpings) for the season.
NameBirth dateBatting styleBowling styleNotesBatters91Tammy Beaumont11 March 1991Right-handed–12194119.01––0–Overseas marquee29Corinne Hall12 October 1987Right-handedRight-arm off spin–––––––15Rachael Haynes26 December 1986Left-handedLeft-arm medium1422397.37––4–Captain, Australian marquee4Anika Learoyd14 April 2002Right-handedRight-arm leg spin34560.00––1–36Phoebe Litchfield18 April 2003Left-handedRight-arm leg spin14280117.64––3–All-rounders23Saskia Horley23 February 2000Right-handedRight-arm off spin–––––––Replacement player58Sammy-Jo Johnson5 November 1992Right-handedRight-arm medium fast1413489.9398.334–14Olivia Porter14 November 2001Right-handedRight-arm medium1055112.24010.004–94Chloe Tryon25 January 1994Right-handedLeft-arm orthodox109796.0356.262–Overseas marqueeWicket-keepers40Amy Jones13 June 1993Right-handed–11210103.44––30Overseas marquee; 21Tahlia Wilson21 October 1999Right-handed–108575.89––23Bowlers34Samantha Bates17 August 1992Right-handedLeft-arm orthodox14834.78126.024–25Hannah Darlington25 January 2002Right-handedRight-arm medium742135.4878.431–12Jessica Davidson3 May 2003Right-handedRight-arm medium fast–––––––2Lauren Smith6 October 1996Right-handedRight-arm off spin132974.35116.542–19Lea Tahuhu23 September 1990Right-handedRight-arm fast91762.9647.001–Overseas marquee (replacement)47Belinda Vakarewa22 January 1998Right-handedRight-arm medium fast1343119.4456.244–
Ladder
Fixtures
All times are AEDT.
Statistics and awards Most runs: Phoebe Litchfield – 280 (16th in the league) Highest score in an innings: Tammy Beaumont – 77* (59) vs Perth Scorchers, 22 October November 2022 Most wickets: Samantha Bates – 12 (equal 18th in the league) Best bowling figures in an innings: Lauren Smith – 5/17 (4 overs) vs Perth Scorchers, 22 October 2022 Most catches (fielder): Samantha Bates, Rachael Haynes, Olivia Porter, Chloe Tryon – 4 each (equal 31st in the league) Player of the Match awards: Lauren Smith – 1 Alex Blackwell Medal: Phoebe Litchfield References
Further reading