Promising young Corowa cricketer Gabby Sutcliffe has signed with Sydney Thunder's WBBL squad as a replacement player.
Sutcliffe,18, will travel to Sydney at the end of the month and join the Thunder squad in the specially arranged WBBL hub based around the Sydney Showgrounds precinct.
In a boost for the young star, Sutcliffe will be available under hub rules to play for any other team who may require a replacement.
Sutcliffe is currently in the ACT/NSW Country under 19 squad and training with the ACT Meteors in Canberra.
"Gabby is a very dedicated athlete who loves the game and wants to learn as much as she can" Riverina Female Academy head coach Catherine Wood said.
"She is fantastic with the younger players coming through and always willing to help out anyway she can.
"Gabby just loves the training aspect of the game and is very hard to get out of the nets some days, such is her appetite for getting better."
Sutcliffe made her A Grade debut for Corowa in last season's Cricket Albury Wodonga District competition.
This year, all WBBL matches will be played in Sydney after the COVID-19 pandemic forced organisers to change the schedule to the one city.
The full 59 matches will be played, with Australian superstar Rachael Haynes captaining Sydney Thunder in the sixth edition of WBBL.
Venues to be used in the Harbour City include Blacktown International Sportspark, North Sydney Oval, Drummoyne Oval, Showgrounds Stadium and Hurstville Oval.
"A challenge, but an exciting challenge," was Sydney Thunder coach Trevor Griffin's verdict when quizzed about his team's draw for the Big Bash season.
"Compared to any previous WBBL season, this is a full-on campaign."
A packed draw means the Thunder will at one point play six matches in nine days, increasing the need to rest and manage players.
The Thunder will kick off the season with a clash against cross-town rivals Sydney Sixers at North Sydney Oval on October 25.
