With the 2024 Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) Final on the horizon and the trading window set to open, allowing teams to reach out to unattached players, the Sydney Thunder have been quick to solidify their foundational players. Sam Bates and Anika Learoyd have both signed two-season contracts, while Hannah Darlington has committed for an additional three years, ensuring her continued presence in the lime green.
Trent Copeland, General Manager of Sydney Thunder, expressed his pleasure about the re-signings, stating, “These three signings add to a formidable group of players who are crucial to our identity and future success. Hopefully, their efforts will propel us to lifting the trophy.”
Sam Bates, aged 28, has been a foundational player for the Sydney Thunder since the league’s inaugural year, being one of only five players in WBBL history to take over 100 wickets while representing a single club. As the Thunder’s all-time leading wicket-taker, the left-arm spinner has solidified her role. Her peak performance came between the 2019-20 and 2021-22 seasons, where she secured 57 wickets across 52 matches.
Following a quieter 2023 season in which she recorded just five wickets in 14 matches, Bates made a significant comeback this season, taking 19 wickets at an average of 12.10 and an economy rate of 6.57. This strong performance establishes her as a crucial player for the Thunder as they approach the 2024 WBBL Finals. Over her WBBL career, Bates has bowled in 120 innings, amassing 119 wickets at an average of 22.35 and an economy rate of 6.15, with a best performance of 4/21. Her return to form will be key for the Thunder’s aspirations for another championship.
The talented 22-year-old all-rounder Hannah Darlington has been instrumental for the Sydney Thunder since her debut in the 2019-20 season. Over 67 WBBL bowling innings, she has taken 91 wickets—including a personal best of 5/10—with an average of 19.19 and an economy rate of 7.24, while also contributing 235 runs from 42 innings.
Darlington made a notable start in her debut season, obtaining 16 wickets in 13 games, and she continued to build on that success: 19 wickets in 12 innings during the 2020-21 season, and 16 wickets from 13 games in 2021-22. Although she experienced a downturn in the 2022-23 season with just 7 wickets from 7 matches, she rebounded last season with a stellar performance, taking 22 wickets in 13 innings. This season, she has continued to exhibit her wicket-taking abilities, with 11 wickets in 9 outings so far.
On her three-year contract, Copeland praised Darlington’s leadership qualities, regarding her as a veteran despite her young age. He commented, “Hannah Darlington, despite still being in her early 20s, feels like a veteran of the game with the leadership and composure she brings. She’s been a captain of the club and is absolutely integral to our future. Her energy and availability to connect with fans are everything we want this club to represent.”
Middle-order batter Anika Learoyd, aged 22, debuted with the Thunder in the 2020-21 season but has yet to experience a breakout year, having amassed only 382 runs from 31 matches to date. Last season, she scored 140 runs in 10 innings, while in the current 2024 season, she has recorded 105 runs in 10 appearances.
Learoyd has achieved two significant scores this season, including a 29 to start her campaign and an unbeaten 31* in a recent match. She has not yet surpassed her best in the WBBL, which stands at 34 from her inaugural season, and she will be keen to deliver a match-winning performance in the upcoming knockout rounds of WBBL 2024.
Image Source: Hannah Darlington @ Instagram
