Women’s BBL 2022: For today’s match against the Hurricanes, Sydney Thunder’s batting lineup has been strengthened. With the arrival of Amy Jones, she won’t be keeping wicket.
When Amy Jones makes her Sydney Thunder debut against the Hobart Hurricanes this evening. Do not expect to see the England Wicket Keeper batter standing behind the stump.
Trevor Griffin, the Thunder’s English coach, decided to support the 22-year-old local goalkeeper Thalia Wilson this season. Allowing her to continue doing the job she has done since the WBBL began.
Wilson is one of a group of promising young wicketkeepers under the age of 25, along with Nicole Factum of the Melbourne Stars, Josie Dooley of the Renegades, Maddy Drake of the Scorchers, and Emma Manix-Geeves of the Hurricane.
Griffin, who announced that Wilson will keep ahead of Jones over the weekend, lavishly praised Wilson, as the league’s top keeper over the previous three seasons—high praise when compared to competitors like Georgia Redmayne, Beth Mooney, and Australia wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy.
‘Keeping for us when we have one of the best in the world joining us in the Amy Jones, but for me, Tahlia has been the best wicketkeeper in the WBBL for the last three years, Griffin said about Tahlia
She showed that again on a difficult wicket against the Hurricanes, she was tidy behind the stumps and have enjoyed her progression.
Jones was a latecomer to the Weber WBBL. Because the England and Wales Cricket Board had to manage player workloads at the end of England’s domestic summer. However, Jones has now connected with her new teammates in Sydney. And has been included in the Thunder’s squad for Tuesday’s match against the Hurricanes.
She will give a classic and experienced performance to the Thunder batting Line up, as they hunt their first win of the season following losses to Hobart and the Scorchers.
The England player has previously been forced to play in the outfield while competing in the WBBL; in her final campaign with the Scorchers in 2020, Mooney kept wicket. She also wants to collaborate closely with Jones, who she previously worked with at Sydney Sixers in WBBL.
After keeping for Trev for the previous two years, Wilson remarked, “It’s wonderful to have Amy Jones on board. She’s obviously a world-class better and a ‘keeper, so for Trev to have that faith in me after the last couple of years keeping for him. I think that really makes me feel good about my keeping.”
“To have her here and be able to learn from her for the next six to seven weeks, I really can’t wait for that opportunity.”
On the eve of the Big Bash season, Wilson achieved her first domestic one-day century for New South Wales. Reaching triple figures alongside fellow Thunder rising gun Phoebe Litchfield.
“All preseason I worked on my game from last year and being able to put it into practice in our trial matches was good,” Wilson said.
Squads:
Sydney Thunder: Samantha Bates, Hannah Darlington, Jess Davidson, Rachael Haynes, Phoebe Litchfield, Olivia Porter, Lauren Smith. Tahlia Wilson, Tammy Beaumont, Corinne Hall, Anika Learoyd, Sammy-Jo Johnson. Chloe Tryon, Amy Jones, Belinda Vakarewa, Lea Tahuhu (overseas replacement signing), Saskia Horley (local replacement)
Hobart Hurricanes: Nicola Carey, Julia Cavanough, Mignon du Preez, Maisy Gibson, Heather Graham, Ruth Johnston. Lizelle Lee, Emma Manix-Geeves, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Amy Smith, Naomi Stalenberg, Molly Strano, Rachel Trenaman.Elyse Villani. Issy Wong (injured, replaced by Hayley Jensen)
