SL Bates

Samantha Lee Bates (born 17 August 1992) is an Australian cricketer who plays as a spin bowler for the Sydney Thunder and Victoria. Bates grew up in Newcastle and started playing cricket in the local boys' competition at age 10. Originally a fast bowler, she was encouraged to take up spin after requiring a knee reconstruction due to a soccer training accident when she was 16. The left-armer toured Dubai in March and April 2015 as a member of Cricket Australia's Shooting Stars program, an under-23 development squad. On 6 December, she claimed the Thunder's first-ever wicket in the Women's Big Bash League, dismissing Alyssa Healy for 14 runs. Two weeks later, Bates broke her right wrist in two places while diving for a catch during a six-wicket loss to the Adelaide Strikers at Allan Border Field. She was consequently ruled out for the remainder of the 2015–16 WBBL season, nevertheless the