Sam Bates has been a prolific form with the ball for Sydney Thunder this season. The 28-year-old has emerged as a reliable asset for her side claiming 19 wickets at a stunning average of just 12 to become the second-highest wicket-taker of this competition. 

She will now enter Wednesday night's knockout final and face off against the Hobart Hurricanes as one of Thunder's key weapons in the bowling arsenal. Moreover, as a part of the latest two-year deal, Bates is likely going to be around for Thunder til 2026.

Bates opens up on her challenges

After enduring a below-par 2023-24 WBBL season, Bates believed that her cricketing career was fast approaching a close. She realized that she may not have a lot of cricket left in her and began thinking that the 2024 season could be her last in all likelihood. 

Last season, Bates only managed to pick up five wickets and had made up her mind to shift her focus to academics. She traveled back to Newcastle to prioritize her paramedics degree.

"It put life in perspective. I actually decided early on, if this was my last season of cricket, that was going to be OK.  It took a huge weight off my shoulders, not putting any pressure on me to try and be someone different or bowl something I am not good at. If I was going to not have a contract it would suck, but I would still be okay. I think that's what's also put a real big clarity on where I was going to bowl and led to good bowling performances."

How did Bates manage to achieve a turnaround?

Bates' 2023-24 summer season was overshadowed by injury and walked into last year's WBBL season with a foot issue. Moreover, the finger spinner was also mentally drained and exhausted while trying to bowl like someone she was not. 

"There was definitely a mental drain last year. What I came up with I was just putting so much pressure on myself to be someone I wasn't, to be a cricketer that I wasn't."

But she admits that a little bit of pep talk with Lisa Sthalekar instilled a lot of self-belief and confidence in her. She worked with her before the start of the season which helped her assess her style of bowling which in turn went a long way in shaping her cricketing personality. 

"I was able to work with Lisa Sthalekar a little bit in the pre-season this year to work out who I was and what I wanted to bowl. And I just wanted to own that."

Bates' stunning exhibition of spin bowling has put the Thunder in a dominating position in the points table but they will still need to secure three straight wins to clinch the title after a last-start loss to the Melbourne Renegades. At present, Bates is the second highest-wicket taker of the tournament trailing by Alana King who is sitting at the top with 20 wickets. 

See also: WBBL 2024: Knockout Match, ST vs HH, Match Prediction - Who Will Win Today?