Phoebe Litchfield Named Captain of Sydney Thunder for WBBL Season
Litchfield will be supported by experienced players like Chamari Athapaththu, Hannah Darlington, Shabnim Ismail, and coach Lisa Keightley. Thunder, who reached the Eliminator final last season, begin their campaign against Hobart Hurricanes on October 28.
Phoebe Litchfield has been appointed captain of Sydney Thunder for the upcoming Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) season, marking her as the youngest full-time captain in the league’s history at 21. Litchfield takes over from England’s Heather Knight, who led the team last season but will miss parts of this season due to a recent injury and England's tour of South Africa.
Reflecting on her new role, Litchfield expressed excitement, saying, "It's a huge honour... I've grown up playing for this club and learning from some incredible leaders." She looks forward to leading a team with a mix of seasoned players and emerging talent.
Since her Thunder debut at age 16, Litchfield has accumulated 1212 runs in 67 matches, with last season showcasing a notable increase in her strike rate as she tallied 309 runs at 130.37. General Manager Trent Copeland noted that this captaincy “feels right” for Litchfield, citing her maturity and leadership qualities. “We’ve seen Phoebe thrive under pressure... She’s a great leader, both by character and by example,” he said.
