Naruemol Chaiwai replaces Sornnarin Tippoch as captain of the Thailand women’s cricket team

The Cricket Association of Thailand (CAT) has announced that Naruemol Chaiwai will replace Sornnarin Tippoch as captain of the Thailand women’s cricket team in all formats. Emerging Cricket understands that Tippoch will continue playing as an all-rounder, and to help the transition.

In a statement, Chaiwai said, ‘I am extremely humbled to be given the opportunity to captain the Thailand national team. I consider myself very lucky to be given this opportunity and I proudly accept this responsibility and its challenges with great pride.’

‘There is a great mood and momentum the camp and I personally feel everyone in the team is in a good place mentally and physically, our goals are well defined, and we share a common vision to excel. With a smile in my heart, I believe exciting times are surely guaranteed in the future!’

Naruemol Chaiwai is one of Thailand’s most experienced cricketers. A former softball player from Chiang Mai, Chaiwai made her debut as captain of the U-19 side that reached the semi-finals of the ACC U-19 Women’s Championship in 2008.

Since then she has fulfilled various roles for the national side, including as a wicket-keeper, an opening batter, and a middle order batter. Today, Chaiwai is arguably Thailand’s best player of spin, and a strong exponent of the sweep shot, which was on display at last year’s T20 World Cup. She is also excellent under pressure, and one of the side’s best fielders, as evidenced by her direct-hit run out of the West Indies’ Lee-Ann Kirby at the ICC Women’s World T20 last year.

Chaiwai has played 39 Women’s T20 Internationals, and averages 21.80 with two fifties. She was Thailand’s top scorer at the ICC Women’s World T20 Qualifier 2019 in Scotland with 87 runs in five matches. Chaiwai also scored a sublime 43 in Thailand’s victorious run-chase against Sri Lanka at the Asia Cup in 2018.

The Tippoch captaincy era has been one of the longest and most successful of any in the Associate men’s and women’s games. Tippoch’s successes include leading her side at the ICC Women’s World T20 2020, winning a gold medal at the South East Asian (SEA) Games 2017, and beating test nation Sri Lanka at the Asia Cup. She also presided over Thailand’s world record 17 consecutive T20 wins spanning the last couple of years pre-World Cup.

Tippoch first led her side 14 years ago, in 2007, has played every single international match for the country since then. Tippoch is also Thailand’s only international centurion, achieving that feat against Singapore over ten years ago.

Young wicket-keeper, batter Nannapat Khoncharoenkai has also been appointed as vice-captain, replacing another stalwart of the side, Nattaya Boochatham.

Thailand’s next assignment is the 2021 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier to be held in Sri Lanka in December.

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