Sydney Thunder snap up Stars spinner

Sydney Thunder have added another dash of Ashes-winning talent to their squad, signing off-spinner Erin Osborne for the inaugural Women’s Big Bash League season.

Osborne, a major part of the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars squad which won back the Women’s Ashes from England, will join Australian teammates Rene Farrell and Alex Blackwell at the Thunder in WBBL01.

The 26-year-old, who has moved from the Lend Lease NSW Breakers to the ACT Meteors in the Women’s National Cricket League for 2015-16, has played two Tests, 57 one-day internationals and 52 Twenty20s since breaking into the Southern Stars squad in 2009.

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“I’m really looking forward to it, playing with the Thunder and some quality Aussie players like Alex Blackwell and Rene Farrell,” Osborne said.

“I’m all ready to go in a new competition that will be exciting and a little bit of an unknown as well.”

Osborne said she was looking forward to the forging new rivalries against people she had played alongside in the past in the WBBL.

“I think it will be a lot of fun, obviously we know each other’s games quite well.

“Really looking forward to that, who knows, there might be a bit of sledging out on the field as well.”

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Osborne’s signing will bolster the Thunders’ bowling ranks, which already boast one of New South Wales’ best young players in Stef Daffara.

Two players from Sydney Thunder’s heartland, Naomi Stalenberg and Mikayla Hinkley, have also signed with the club for WBBL|01.

Thunder squad: Alex Blackwell, Stefanie Daffara, Rene Farrell, Mikayla Hinkley, Erin Osborne, Naomi Stalenberg