Sydney Thunder have signed South African international allrounder Nadine de Klerk for the Weber WBBL|12 season, the club announced on Sunday, October 25, a week before their first home match.
De Klerk joins Thunder after four seasons at the Brisbane Heat, following a year in which she won the Women's Premier League title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru and scored a century for Western Province Women.
The 26-year-old right-arm pace bowler and right-hand batter made her international debut as a teenager in 2017 and has since played four Tests, 64 ODIs and 87 T20Is for South Africa.
"It's always exciting to be a part of a new adventure. It was a pretty easy decision to end up here," de Klerk said.
She said she wanted to make an impact in both disciplines for her new club.
"I'm always hoping to have a big impact, whether it's with the bat coming in lower down the order and try and finish off games or same with the ball by trying to keep it tight or taking wickets," she said.
De Klerk was a key contributor for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in this year's WPL, finishing as the competition's third-leading wicket-taker with 16 wickets and producing a match-winning unbeaten 63 along with figures of 4-26 during the campaign.
She pointed to that title-winning run as a highlight, and to playing alongside two of her new Thunder teammates.
"I obviously made some really great memories with Georgia and Lauren playing with them at RCB and lifting that trophy. Both of them are world class players, we've seen what they've been able to do, playing a massive role in us winning that competition," she said, referring to Georgia Voll and Lauren Bell.
De Klerk also scored 101 for Western Province Women in the CSA Women's Pro50 Series earlier this month, and took nine wickets and scored 165 runs in eight matches for London Spirit in this year's Hundred.
Thunder general manager Trent Copeland said the club had targeted de Klerk's experience across major global tournaments.
"Nadine is one of the best allrounders in world cricket, who brings an enormous amount of experience in world cups, WPL winning teams and all major tournaments around the world," Copeland said.
Copeland said de Klerk was signed to add power with the bat and control with the ball in the middle overs.
"This is all about explosiveness with the bat, and calmness with the ball in key phases. The pairing with Laura Harris in our middle order is as dangerous as it gets in the WBBL and undoubtedly sets us apart on our best day from any team in the competition," he said.
"We think she's going to be a fantastic addition to our group, and we can't wait to see what she can do in lime green this summer," Copeland said.
Brisbane Heat first signed de Klerk in August 2021, alongside fellow South African Anneke Bosch, and she spent four seasons at the club before this move.
De Klerk joins a Thunder squad coached by Lisa Keightley that also includes fellow internationals Lauren Bell and Heather Knight, as well as Phoebe Litchfield, Georgia Voll, Tahlia Wilson, Laura Harris, Hannah Darlington, Jemma Barsby, Sam Bates, Lucy Finn, Hasrat Gill, Nicola Hancock and Anika Learoyd.
Sydney Thunder open their home season against Brisbane Heat at Drummoyne Oval on Sunday, November 1 at 3.40pm AEDT, before hosting the Perth Scorchers on Thursday, November 5, the Melbourne Stars on Monday, November 16 and the Sydney Sixers on Saturday, November 28.