After agreeing to a new two-year contract with Sydney Thunder, David Warner will be available for the whole BBL season for the first time in his career. Meanwhile, Steven Smith may participate in the league after his Test career ends as part of a new three-year pact to stay with Sydney Sixers.
Prior to the tournament’s 14th edition, Alex Carey and Marnus Labuschagne, who are teammates in the Test squad, have re-signed with the Adelaide Strikers and Brisbane Heat, respectively.
The Test stars are expected to be available from January 21, the opening day of the BBL’s knockout stage, to the conclusion of the Sydney Test against India and their departure for the Sri Lanka trip on January 21 of the following year.
Warner, though, has a clean shot at winning the BBL now that his international career is concluded. He has played eight games for Thunder over the previous two seasons after a ten-year hiatus, including the game when he was flown in by helicopter last summer.
Trent Copeland, general manager of the Thunder, stated, “I know the South Asian communities in Sydney’s west will get right behind Davey at Thunder. He is popular wherever he plays, right around the world, particularly in India.”
“With Davey, we have a world-class player with nearly two decades of T20 expertise, and because he has retired from international cricket, we know that he will give the whole tournament—including the finals—his undivided attention and dedication.
A possible derby between Warner Thunder and the Sixers, as well as as many as four games for Smith, are scheduled within that timeframe. Labuschagne’s Heat and Carey’s Strikers, on the other hand, face three games apiece.
Although Smith continues to give no timeframe for his Australia career, he could potentially be free to play a complete BBL season instead of just a cameo if he decided to retire from Test cricket during the next three years.
“I don’t have any plans,” Smith declared. “Right now, I’m just having fun playing; I’m feeling really laid back and excited for this summer. India presents a formidable opponent; they are a formidable side. We believe we are the two strongest Test sides in the world when we play each other over the course of five Tests. That excites me.”
Though it will remain up for dispute, Smith took Warner place earlier this year and is presently one of Australia’s preferred Test openers.
According to the talks I’ve had thus far, we’re going to England.After the one-dayers, I’m there till I make up my mind. In the background, there are talks taking place. Individuals who share Usman [Khawaja’s] opinion that I’m OK down at number four believe Marnus shares their way of thinking. Let’s wait and see. I’d be content to bat anyplace.
Smith played with the Sixers, who took home the BBL championship in 2012. However, after making a brilliant cameo two summers prior, Smith has only sometimes been available. After accomplishing the milestone twice in a five-game stretch, he became the first male player in Sixers history to score a century.
Smith played cricket with the Ricky Ponting-coached Washington Freedom in Major League Cricket this July, leading them to victory. Smith was left out of the roster for Australia’s T20 World Cup team over the winter.
After India’s tour of Australia ends on January 7, Labuschagne will rejoin the Heat, the defending champions and his long-term BBL team.
The new Heat coach, Johan Botha, stated, “His game sense is exceptional and that is a huge asset to us on and off the court.”
Carey, a Test wicketkeeper who has spent eight years in the league playing all 56 BBL games, has inked a four-year contract with the Strikers. Starting this season, Tim Paine, his former Test wicketkeeper, will teach the strikers.
Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins—the main three quicks—have not yet signed with BBL teams, so it is probable that they will take time off from bowling before Sri Lanka.
Read More: Samoa’s Darius Visser breaks men’s T20I records with 39 runs in an over
