Hannah Darlington named CEO of Sydney Thunder after being ruled out of WBBL|11

Sydney Thunder star Hannah Darlington will miss the upcoming Weber WBBL|11 season as she continues her recovery from a knee injury.

The 23-year-old is determined to still have a positive impact with the group by taking up a variety of off-field opportunities this season and has been officially coined the Sydney Thunder WBBL CEO (Chief EVERYTHING Officer).

Stepping into a development and leadership role, Hannah will shadow Sydney Thunder General Manager Trent Copeland and mentor emerging talent across the Thunder squad. She’ll also help guide a newly formed Thunder Academy group of future prospects from the Spring Challenge, supporting their growth through select Thunder training sessions.

“I’m stoked to be taking on this unofficial role of ‘CEO’. I like to think I’m a jack of all trades both on and off the cricket pitch and while I recover from this knee injury, it’s a perfect opportunity to stay involved in a different way,” Darlington said.

“I’ll be working closely with our emerging talent and hopefully passing on some of what I’ve learned over the years. I’m really looking forward to supporting the younger players and staying connected with the Thunder family. Who knows, I might even make the step up to Trent’s role!”

Darlington will also expand her footprint in cricket broadcasting, continuing her commentary work in the WNCL and WBBL as part of the Fox Cricket broadcast team.

“Broadcasting has been an amazing new challenge for me. It’s given me a fresh perspective on the game and another way to stay close to the action while I recover.”

Sydney Thunder General Manager Trent Copeland said the club was proud of how Darlington has approached her setback.

“Hannah is no doubt the team’s larrikin. Always able to turn a negative into a positive through her humour and stand-up character. Couple that with her expertise as a world class cricketer, it was a no-brainer to coin her as our new Chief EVERYTHING Officer,” Copeland said.

“From creating the team playlists in the changerooms, to offering her insights on matchday. Her leadership, positivity, and willingness to help others are what make her such a valuable part of the Thunder family. We can’t wait to see her back playing next season, but in the meantime, she’ll have a big impact in this new role.”

Thunder kick off their WBBL|11 campaign against the Hobart Hurricanes on November 9 and Melbourne Renegades on November 11, before returning home to Drummoyne Oval for a blockbuster Sydney Smash on November 15. Click here to grab your tickets!

Right outside the doorstep to Drummoyne Oval, on Taplin Park, Thunder will host a Cricket & Culture Festival, including great food and drink options, cultural performances, mascots, inflatables, a live DJ, henna and face painting and tape ball games. Click here for more information.

Sydney Thunder WBBL|11 Home Fixtures (All Times AEDT)

Hannah Darlington named CEO of Sydney Thunder after being ruled out of WBBL|11

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