Sydney Thunder signs teenage cricketer Anika Learoyd for two years
Another teenager has made their way out of Premier Cricket and Cricket NSW pathways to make the Sydney Thunder roster.
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She’s been touted as one of crickets rising stars and now Sydney Thunder have snapped up teen batter Anika Learoyd for two seasons.
Hailing from Coffs Harbour but now based at Wahroonga, the 17-year-old plays Premier Cricket with Northern Districts and is the latest teen to make the step up into a WBBL team.
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Last season a host of teenagers made their mark in the WBBL for Thunder, including Phoebe Litchfield, Hannah Darlington, Saskia Horsley and Kate Peterson
“Getting a WBBL contract is a goal that I’ve been working towards for a couple of years now so it’s exciting to see that hard work paying off,” said Learoyd, who bowls leg spin.
“It was a great experience to be invited along to a couple of Thunder training sessions last season and I’m really looking forward to being part of it this season.”
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Learoyd, who is a proud Gumbaynggir woman, said she was drawn to the club’s commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement, including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander T20 Cup.
“I’m really proud of my culture and it’s exciting to know that I’ll be stepping into an environment that really supports the Indigenous community,” she said.
Leroy made her NSW Breakers debut in February and was a standout for Northern Districts in the NSW Premier cricket competition with her Sydney side.