Knight announced her retirement from international cricket in July and has also stepped away from The Hundred this season. Despite moving into cricket administration, she has decided to remain involved on the field with Sydney Thunder.
She has also taken up the role of general manager of the London Spirit women’s team, giving her a new perspective on franchise cricket. Thunder general manager Trent Copeland revealed that Knight contacted the club immediately after announcing her international retirement.
“When Heather announced her international retirement, she messaged me straight away to reaffirm her commitment to the Thunder, which says a lot about how much this club means to her,” Copeland said.
Knight has been one of Sydney Thunder’s most influential players during her time with the club. She has won the Alex Blackwell Medal as Thunder’s best player in three of her four previous seasons, highlighting her consistency and importance to the team.
Her experience will add further strength to a talented batting lineup featuring Phoebe Litchfield, Georgia Voll, Tahlia Wilson, Anika Learoyd and Laura Harris.
Reflecting on her return, Knight said she has thoroughly enjoyed her time with Thunder and remains excited about the direction of the franchise.
“I’ve really enjoyed playing with the Sydney Thunder over the years. It’s a fun group, a group that I’ve captained, and I think what Trent Copeland and Lisa Keightley are trying to build is really special,” Knight said.
Knight also believes her new role with London Spirit has given her valuable insight into the administrative side of franchise cricket.
“Seeing how a franchise works from another view has been very cool. It’s made me appreciate what a lot of the league, coaches and support staff do. In terms of leadership qualities, this year I’m going to try and bring that level of experience and try and keep pretty level and calm, which is how I always go about my cricket,” she added.
With Knight returning for WBBL|12, Sydney Thunder will have an experienced leader and proven match-winner at their disposal as they look to make another strong push in the competition.
