Sydney Thunder have added international players Lauren Bell and Nadine de Klerk, along with Nicola Hancock and Jemma Barsby, to address weaknesses that cost them a finals spot last season. The club finished seventh in WBBL|11 after missing fourth place by two points. Captain Phoebe Litchfield says the squad now has depth and selection options. Heather Knight returns after retiring from international cricket and will support the young local batters. The bowling attack, which lacked punch last season, has been strengthened with Bell, a senior England quick, and de Klerk, an allrounder.
Sydney Thunder have signed South African allrounder Nadine de Klerk on a one-year deal for WBBL|12, with full availability including finals. The 26-year-old has played 33 Big Bash games for Brisbane Heat since 2020. Thunder general manager Trent Copeland called her one of the best allrounders in world cricket. De Klerk is set to reunite with former Heat teammate Nicola Hancock, who also joined the Thunder. The Thunder take on Melbourne Renegades at Junction Oval in the first game of the new season on Thursday.
England fast bowler Lauren Bell is returning to the Sydney Thunder and says she is eager to lead their pace attack. The world's top-ranked T20 international pace bowler is joining a squad that finished seventh last season, partly due to a lack of bowling depth. Bell previously played just two matches for the Thunder in 2023 before being squeezed out of the side by Chamari Athapaththu. She will be joined by Nicola Hancock, Lucy Finn and Hannah Darlington, and will reunite with former England captain Heather Knight, who has retired from international cricket.
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Sydney Thunder have signed New Zealand left-arm quick Trent Boult on a one-year deal with full availability, including finals, for the BBL|16 season. The 37-year-old will join fellow New Zealander Lockie Ferguson in the pace attack. Boult said he was excited to play in the Big Bash again. Former England captain Andrew Flintoff, the club's new head coach, said the pair could take early wickets with the new ball. Boult has taken 601 wickets across Test, one-day and T20 internationals.
