Cummins joins the Thunder Nation

Sydney Thunder’s bid to make a significant impact in the fourth edition of the KFC T20 Big Bash League has received a significant boost with the addition of exciting young quick Pat Cummins.

It signals a return home for the 21-year-old after he helped Perth Scorchers achieve championship glory in BBL|03.

Cummins played his Grade cricket for Penrith in Sydney and says he’s looking forward to joining the Thunder squad.

“It will be fun to come back to the area that I grew up in and play in front of the cricket fans of western Sydney,” Cummins said.

“I am excited with the way the Thunder has recruited and with the overall vision of the club and I’m looking forward to contributing to the team in BBL|04.

“It is an exciting time for the Thunder as there were promising signs last season that showed that they are close to getting the results that the team is capable of.”

It represents another big signing for the Thunder as they look to bounce back from three years on the bottom of the table.

Cummins joins cricket greats Jacques Kallis and Mike Hussey, as well as the second-highest run-scorer in the Oppo Champions League Twenty20, Aiden Blizzard.

“To get a player of Pat’s ability is great news for Thunder fans,” Thunder General Manager Nick Cummins said.

“He is a quality young man, who is one of the best fast bowlers in the country and is a proven performer in the T20 format of the game.

“I know that he is looking forward to returning to Sydney and he is a great fit for the strategy that we have going forward in terms of recruiting quality players who have come from our heartland.”

Cummins is currently with the Kolkata Knight Riders squad at the CLT20 and is set to play for Australia in the sole T20I against Pakistan on Sunday, depending on how the IPL champions fare in the semi-final against Hobart Hurricanes.

Today’s announcement also marks the on-sale date for Thunder memberships this season. More info on team memberships can be found here.