Phoebe Litchfield will captain the Sydney Thunder in the WBBL at 21

Just four years after making her WBBL debut as a teenage phenom, Phoebe Litchfield has been handed the captaincy of the Sydney Thunder for the upcoming season.

Thunder boss, and former NSW seamer, Trent Copeland, said making the 21-year-old the youngest full-time captain in WBBL history “just feels right” after Litchfield made her debut as a 16-year-old.

She has gone on to establish herself as a mainstay of the Australian teams having made her Test, T20 and ODI debuts and will lead the Thunder in the opening clash of the season next Monday against the Hobart Hurricanes.

“It’s a huge honour to be named captain of Sydney Thunder,” Litchfield said.

“I’ve grown up playing for this club and learning from some incredible leaders, so to now have the opportunity to lead such a talented group of players is really exciting.

“We’ve got a great mix of experience and young raw talent, and I’m really looking forward to the challenge of captaining the side this season.”

In 2021, Hannah Darlington, who was only 19, was the youngest WBBL captain but only as a fill-in for Rachael Haynes in one match.

While Copeland conceded that Litchfield was young to be captain, he said he had seen her “thrive under pressure” and that she was ready to step up.

“Phoebe becoming captain of Thunder just feels right,” Copeland said.

“She’s young, but her experience in the game makes this a natural progression. Phoebe has always been mature beyond her years, and her leadership qualities have been evident from the moment she joined Thunder.

“We’ve seen Phoebe thrive under pressure, whether it’s for Australia in the World Cup or in key moments for Thunder. She’s a great leader, both by character and by example, and we are excited to see her step into this role.

“The Thunder squad is built on a vibrant youthful energy mixed in with a lot of top tier experience, and Phoebe is at the heart of that.

“This captaincy will only enhance the team’s trajectory and bring out the best in our players.”

Litchfield takes over the captaincy from former leaders Heather Knight and Rachael Haynes.