Photo Credit: Sydney Thunder
Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma sign on for WBBL|07
Sydney Thunder coach, Trevor Griffin, said his team’s title defence had received an extra edge with Indian superstars Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma signing on for the club’s Weber WBBL|07 campaign.
The pair, who are in Queensland with India’s national team for the ODI series and Test match against Australia, were identified by Thunder as quality players with the ability to make an explosive impact on the T20 competition.
Mandhana starred for India in Friday night’s nail-biting, final ball loss to Australia in Mackay. Her innings of 86 from 94 balls was highlighted by 11 boundaries, and it helped to set up India’s competitive total of 274 runs.
Sharma made her presence felt in the ODI match described as one of the most thrilling played in Australia, with a knock of 23 runs and by capturing Tahlia McGrath’s wicket.
Griffin, who has worked extensively with Mandhana in England, was excited by the thought of the left-handed opener adding her firepower to the lime green.
“She’s world class,” said Griffin, of the player named the 2018 ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year. “Smriti is an opening batter who has the tremendous ability to take everything in her stride.
“I like that she keeps her game really simple; she just wants to score runs. I’m delighted to have her on board, and I have no doubt that she’ll prove to be a great addition to Thunder.”
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Mandhana, who broke through to be ranked among the world’s top three T2OI batters last July, said she would embrace the pressure on her to perform as one of Thunder’s overseas players.
“I like it, it always helps,” said the 25-year-old of the demands. “Playing in overseas leagues gives you a lot of experience, especially in the T20 format.
“Then, of course, you exchange so much experience with each other… with all the players from over the world… so you get to learn a lot.
“Rather than ‘pressure’, I always look at it as an opportunity to learn, and to get used to that pressure because it only builds when you play international cricket.”
Griffin described the recruitment of Deepti Sharma as one that not only allowed Thunder to usher a genuine talent into the WBBL, but it also helped to fill the void left by England skipper, Heather Knight.
Knight, who performed brilliantly for Thunder throughout their triumphant WBBL|06 campaign, was unavailable to return this summer.
“While it’s disappointing not to be able to have Heather back, if you could choose any replacement for her it would be Deepti – she’s also a star,” said Griffin.
“She offers a lot with the bat – Deepti is a match winner – and she also has the talent to bowl in the powerplay, during the middle of a match, or at the death.
“Deepti is a great addition to the Thunder, and I have no doubt she’ll go a long way to helping us in this year’s competition.”
The 24-year-old said she was thrilled to sign with Thunder, because after starring in England’s Super League and The Hundred, it was her goal to play in the WBBL.
“This is my first time [in the WBBL], so I’m excited,” she said. “I’ve had offers before, but I couldn’t play at the time because at the time we had [an international] series.
“It’s a big thing for Indian women’s cricket that we have the opportunity to play in the WBBL. We have to express ourselves in the competition.”
Sydney Thunder begin their WBBL|07 campaign – and title defence – against the Adelaide Strikers on Saturday, October 16 from 7:05pm AEDT, at Blundstone Arena in Hobart.
Thunder fans can catch all the action LIVE on Channel 7, Fox Cricket and Kayo, with awesome behind the scenes content across our social channels.
Sydney Thunder WBBL Squad
Head Coach: Trevor Griffin
Contracted for WBBL|07: Rachael Haynes (C), Samantha Bates, Hannah Darlington, Corinne Hall, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Smriti Mandhana (IND), Kate Peterson, Olivia Porter, Deepti Sharma (IND), Lauren Smith, Tahlia Wilson
