“It is a great honor to be named captain of the Sydney Thunder,” said Litchfield. “I grew up playing for this club and learning from some incredible leaders, so to now have the opportunity to lead such a talented group of players is really exciting.
“They have given us a great mix of fun and youthful talent, and I am really looking forward to the challenge of captaining the team this season.”
Litchfield made his Thunder debut at the age of 16 and scored 1212 runs in 67 matches at an average of 24.24. Last season saw a notable increase in his strike rate as he made 309 runs at 130.37.
“Phoebe becoming captain of the Thunder just feels right,” Thunder general manager Trent Copeland said. “She is younger, but her love for the game makes this a natural evolution. Phoebe has always been mature beyond her years and her leadership qualities were observable from the moment she joined Thunder.
“We’ve seen Phoebe thrive under pressure, whether for Australia in the World Cup or in key moments for the Thunder. She’s a great leader, both by character and by example, and we’re excited to see her take on this role.”
Alongside Knight, Litchfield will be able to rely on the leadership of Chamari Athapaththu, Hannah Darlington (who led Thunder as a 19-year-old stand-in captain), Shabnim Ismail and Sammy-Jo Johnson along with educator Lisa Keightley.
Thunder, who reached the final Eliminator season where they were defeated by Brisbane Warmth, will begin their tournament against Hobart Hurricanes on October 28.
