Sydney Thunder have finalised their overseas players for WBBL|12 by signing South Africa allrounder Nadine de Klerk from Brisbane Heat, Cricket Australia reported on 25 October 2026. The 26-year-old has joined on a one-year deal with full availability, including finals.
What Was Announced
De Klerk has played 33 Big Bash games for the Heat since 2020. Last season she made 158 runs and took five wickets in WBBL|11 and was named the Heat's MVP. She joins England's Heather Knight and Lauren Bell as the Thunder's three international players.
"It was a pretty easy decision to end up here," de Klerk said in a statement. "I think we have a really good group (and) a really well-balanced squad."
Thunder general manager Trent Copeland called her "one of the best allrounders in world cricket" and said her pairing with Laura Harris in the middle order "is as dangerous as it gets in the WBBL".
De Klerk has played 155 international games across all three formats for South Africa, taking 142 wickets and making 2,024 runs. She won the WPL with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in January alongside Bell and Georgia Voll, both now her Thunder teammates.
The Thunder have now filled 14 of their 15 roster spots. Their WBBL|12 contracted list so far:
- Jemma Barsby
- Sam Bates
- Lauren Bell (England)
- Hannah Darlington
- Nadine de Klerk
- Lucy Finn
- Hasrat Gill
- Nicola Hancock
- Laura Harris
- Heather Knight (England)
- Anika Learoyd
- Phoebe Litchfield
- Georgia Voll
- Tahlia Wilson
The coach is Lisa Keightley.
What It Means
De Klerk reunites with former Heat teammate Nicola Hancock, who signed with the Thunder last month. WBBL|12 begins on Thursday, with the Thunder playing Melbourne Renegades at Junction Oval in the first game of the season.
Source: Cricket Australia report.