Sydney Thunder have scored a massive coup just two weeks out from the Weber WBBL|10 Draft, with last year’s WBBL Player of the Tournament Chamari Athapaththu committing to the Western Sydney club for the next three seasons.
Athapaththu signed with Thunder last season as an un-drafted free agent, filling the fourth overseas player slot on Thunder’s list before proving herself to be far more than a substitute when the club’s drafted players were unavailable.
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The Sri Lankan captain finished the regular season as the second highest run scorer with 511 runs at 42.58, striking at 129.69 and including five half centuries. She also claimed nine wickets, including 3-20 against the Sixers, and maintained an economy rate of 6.79.
Those contributions led to four Player of the Match awards, the league’s Player of the Tournament, a spot on the Team of the Tournament and the Alex Blackwell Medal, awarded to Thunder’s player of the year.
Off the field Athapaththu became a cult figure amongst teammates and fans, with a special bay dedicated to her loyal army of supporters at the Sydney Smash at the SCG.
Unlike in previous seasons where overseas signings in the WBBL were contracted on a one-year basis, Athapaththu has signed under the League’s new multi-year contract provision.
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The introduction of the multi-year provision enables each club to sign one overseas player each season for up to three years – outside of the Draft – securing high-profile talent for clubs on a longer-term basis.
All remaining overseas players must be secured by clubs via either the Draft, or alternatively can be signed as a Replacement Player in place of a full-time squad member.
Speaking from London where she is playing for the Oval Invincibles in The Hundred competition, Athapaththu said:
“Committing to Sydney Thunder for the next three seasons was an easy decision because I believe in the vision of this club, and I want to be part of its future success.
“There’s so much to love about my Sydney Thunder family. My teammates are not just colleagues; they are friends who push each other to be better every day, [which] is important to me.
“The support from the Thunder Nation is also incredibly special. Western Sydney is the heart and soul of Sydney Thunder and representing such a diverse and vibrant community is a privilege to have.
“It’s been an incredible journey so far, and I’m so excited for what’s ahead.”
Sydney Thunder General Manager Trent Copeland said Athapaththu was as popular in Western Sydney for her off field exploits as she was on the field.
“It’s incredibly exciting to have Chamari return to the Thunder and be available for the entire WBBL|10 tournament,” Copeland said.
“We know other teams were interested in signing her, but we made every effort to ensure she came back.
“Chamari is obviously an exceptional cricket player, but she is also an exceptional human being who is team first and fan first,”
“To see the way she embraced and engaged with our members and fans last summer was something pretty special and on the field she had one of the WBBL’s great seasons.
“We are looking forward to Chamari returning and bringing our fans so much joy, particularly our multicultural fans that got behind her in such numbers last season.”
Athapaththu’s signing comes after Western Sydney’s favourite club confirmed rising star Georgia Voll and veteran fast bowler Taneale Peschel have joined the team on multi-year deals.
Sydney Thunder WBBL|10 Squad (as at August 16): Chamari Athapaththu (INT), Samantha Bates, Hannah Darlington, Saskia Horley, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Claire Moore, Taneale Peschel, Georgia Voll, Tahlia Wilson
