Heather Knight, the charismatic captain of the England Women, will serve as the head coach of the Sydney Thunder during the next Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) season.
Following the illustrious Rachael Haynes’ retirement, Knight assumes this position of leadership with the intention of leading the Thunder to new heights following their difficult season in 2017.
The Thunder, who placed last the season before, have undergone a stunning makeover in their lineup, adding the tenacious Knight, along with the fearsome abilities of South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp and England’s pace phenom Lauren Bell.
This talent boost will undoubtedly revive the Thunder’s fortunes and put them on the road to victory. Lisa Keightley, a former England coach who is currently in charge of the Thunder, expressed her excitement for the right-handed batter’s promotion to the position of leadership, saying,
We are overjoyed that Heather will lead Thunder this summer. She is a very seasoned leader and the ideal choice to lead the club into this new age. She is one of the most courageous and tenacious people I’ve ever worked with, and I can’t wait to see how she affects the team. She was reported by ESPNcricinfo as stating, “Her enthusiastic energy will be a fantastic boost to an already strong team with the other international signings and domestic players we have lined up.
The enchantment of Heather Knight and Lisa Keightley as a team
Knight, who is known for her unyielding resolve, has had a busy winter, guiding the England Women’s team through an exciting Ashes series and then assuming control of London Spirit in The Hundred. She was a crucial member of the Thunder’s championship-winning team in the 2020–21 season, emerging as the leading run-scorer with an excellent total of 446 runs at an impressive average of 40.54 and a stunning strike-rate of 124.92. Notably, she has a long history with the Thunder in the WBBL.
The 32-year-old’s flexibility extends to her bowling abilities, and against the Brisbane Heat, she produced her career-best numbers for the Thunder, taking three wickets in one over while only allowing four runs to be scored. From 2019 to 2022, she co-led the England Women’s team with Lisa Keightley, and the pair produced outstanding success, including a remarkable run to the 2022 ODI World Cup Final and semi-final appearances at the 2020 T20 World Cup and the Commonwealth Games.
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