Thailand recently staged the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier in and it was Bangladesh and Ireland which qualified for the Women’s World Twenty20 which will be played in India in March and April 2016. Thailand’s leg-spinner Suleeporn Laomi impressed greatly during the tournament and she has won the chance to take part in the Women’s Big Bash being held in Australia on a two-week placement available for the best players from Associate nations.
Amee was named as one of the eight players who will take part in the ‘Rookie Program’ for the Women’s Big Bash League and she will be joining Sydney Thunder for the later stages of the competition which will see her going to matches played by the team and to take part in training as her new team attempt to qualify for the final stages of the competition.
Amee has been playing international cricket for Thailand at under-19 and senior levels for the last five years and she has made steady progress as she took part in ACC Under-19 Championships in Singapore and Kuwait when she was just 12 and 14 respectively, before first playing for the seniors when she had just turned 16. The young leg-spinner impressed the selection panel with her control and composure as she took five wickets for 73 in her five matches in the Women’s Qualifier in Bangkok.
Amee is travelling from Bangkok to Australia on 4th January and will be accompanied by Thailand captain Sornnarin Tippoch and they both have a great opportunity to be involved in the Women’s Big Bash as the competition brings together some of the best women’s players in the world, both from Australia and from the other leading countries.
Sydney Thunder are currently top of the table having won eight of their ten matches and Amee and Noi will attend matches at Eitihad Stadium in Melbourne and at the Sydney Cricket Ground where the women’s matches will be played before men’s matches. It is wonderful that two Thai women players will have the chance to be involved in a prestigious competition with a crowd of 80,000 recently seen for matches held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Amee will have the chance to bowl her leg-spin at one of the most iconic cricket grounds in the world,the SCG which has been graced by Australian leg-spinners such as Richie Benaud and Shane Warne, and the Thailand captain will also be able to learn a lot about the tactics and skills needed to play in top-class 20-over cricket.
Amee has been playing cricket during her teenage years as she has been able to combine cricket with her school work at Cricket Academies in Chiang Mai and Bangkok, and she has had regular tournament experience, so this is a great opportunity for her and also recognition for the Cricket Association of Thailand’s junior development program.