Henry Thornton’s exceptional talent was evident from a young age when he earned a spot in the Under-13 Cricket NSW Academy Program. Several years later, his remarkable abilities as a tall fast bowler and a hard-hitting lower-order batsman earned him a well-deserved NSW Blues rookie contract. In the summer of 2015-16, Thornton was a vital part of the NSW Metro team, which clinched the Under-19 National Championships. His performance in this tournament led to his selection in the Australian Under-19 team for a series against England in Perth. During this tour, he emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the ODI section, with an impressive tally of 13 wickets at an average of 13.46. Thornton’s dedication to improving his game was evident as he spent part of the off-season training at the Bupa National Cricket Centre in Brisbane. Unfortunately, he missed the Australian Under-19 team’s tour of England due to injury. Nevertheless, his consistent and strong performances earned him a full contract with the Blues for the 2017-18 season.