Sydney Thunder

Sydney Thunder are a professional cricket club competing in Australia’s top-tier T20 competitions – the Big Bash League (BBL) and the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL).

Proudly representing Western Sydney, we are passionate about our communities and improving the lives of those people. Driven by a relentless commitment to win on and off the field, we strive to make a positive impact across the Thunder Nation.

Underpinning all community initiatives is a focus on inclusion, belonging and authentic connection.

Launched in 2024, the Thunder Tape Ball League has quickly become a key part of the club’s identity. Originating in Pakistan and played widely across South Asia, tape ball cricket offers an accessible, culturally familiar entry point to the game. Our inaugural six‑week competition featured eight teams at Blacktown International Sportspark, with junior and senior competitions now expanding across NSW.

Pakistan and Thunder all-rounder Shadab Khan joined a tape ball event in December and shared what the format means to him:

“Everyone in Pakistan starts playing cricket with tape ball cricket, that’s what I remember myself. It’s always enjoyable. When I play, I get memories of my childhood. It takes me back to when I was a kid. It’s a great initiative from Thunder. What I saw today [at the tape ball event], everyone definitely enjoyed it.”

Another highlight from the recent season was our partnership with the Sri Lankan Australian Women’s Network to host A Night with Chamari Athapaththu – an evening of conversation, networking and shared dinner that united the local Sri Lankan community.

Thunder match days reflect this commitment to inclusion through live music, performances, food and activations that celebrate the diversity of the Thunder Nation. From Bhangra dancers and Bollywood stilt walkers to henna painters and vintage Bollywood taxis, each match day aims to create an authentic and welcoming experience for all.

The work of Sydney Thunder is reflective of Cricket NSW’s commitment to celebrating multiculturalism through the delivery of cricket. Cricket NSW launched its South Asian Engagement Strategy in 2024 and is working to deliver projects to engage South Asian communities across community and high-performance programs and alongside Thunder in the fan engagement space. Through these and other initiatives, Thunder and Cricket NSW are committed to making a real and meaningful impact across our Western Sydney communities.

Find out more about Sydney Thunder

Sydney Thunder is the sponsor of the Sports Medal.