RAINFORD cricketer Ellie Threlkeld has been confirmed as one of Thunder's eight professionals ahead of the 2023 campaign.

Ahead of last season, Threlkeld, 23, was appointed as captain of Thunder, replacing Alex Hartley, and enjoyed a successful first season as skipper of Lancashire's women's outfit.

The wicketkeeper batter was the side's leading run-scorer in the 2022 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, with 266 runs at an average of 53.20. She made two half-centuries in the competition, 91 against Lightning and 79 against Southern Vipers and she was also ever-present for Manchester Originals in The Hundred, scoring 32 runs.

Threlkeld joins Hannah Jones, Phoebe Graham and Laura Jackson alongside new additions Naomi Dattani, Fi Morris and Tara Norris in Thunder’s eight-strong professional ranks.

 

Departing Thunder is Sutton all-rounder Nat Brown who has been released ahead of next season.

Brown, 32, joined the Lancashire set up in the county age group programmes at the age of 10.

She then went on to make her full senior debut for Lancashire Women at the age of 14.

She would go on to play over 200 times for Lancashire, Lancashire Thunder, North West Thunder and Manchester Originals in a 15 year career with the Red Rose.

Brown played just two matches for Thunder in 2022, both in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, scoring 33 runs.

 

Thunder also confirmed that batter Georgie Boyce has left Thunder and Lancashire Women. Rebecca Duckworth and Alice Dyson have also been released.

David Thorley, Regional Performance Director of Women's Cricket, said: “Georgie was one of our first professional players so was a trailblazer in the women’s game and has been a great servant to Lancashire Women and Thunder and we’d like to thank her, and the other players departing for their performances and wish them the best for their future careers.”