The Australian batter Steven Smith has signed a three-year deal with Sydney Sixers and will be available for the tournament between the end of the Border Gavaskar Trophy and the test tour against Sri Lanka which starts on January 21.
The test opener will be joining Australian teammate Marnus Labuschagne in BBL 14 who re-signed with Brisbane Heat. meanwhile, test wicketkeeper Alex Carey has also signed a four-year deal to remain with Adelaide Strikers until the end of BBL 17.
Notably, the retired opener David Warner also returns to Sydney Thunder this summer and will be playing his first full BBL season. The inclusion of the Australian stars could give a huge boost to the competition with the ticket sales for the league’s 14th season released at midday today.
Steve Smith has re-signed with the Sydney Sixers for the next three seasons! 💫 pic.twitter.com/ViFBoCBApa
— Lubana Warriors (@LubanaS49) August 20, 2024
“I don’t have any plans. I’m just enjoying playing at the moment, I’m pretty relaxed and looking forward to this summer. India’s going to be a great challenge, they are a very good side, think we are probably the two best Test teams in the world going head-to-head over five Tests. I’m excited by that,” said Smith.
Smith was a member of the Sixers side that won the first edition of the BBL 2012 but had been available for only a few matches in the last two seasons. He was the first male Sydney Sixers player to score a century.
“Steve is a Sixer through and through and has been part of the club since the very beginning (in BBL|01).”
“It’s a sign of significant commitment on his part to sign on with the club for the next three years and we couldn’t be happier to have him on board long-term,” concluded Sixers general manager Rachael Haynes.
Steve Smith has also expressed his hope of returning to IPL after next year after going unsold in the 2022 and 2024 auctions. “I’d certainly love another opportunity at IPL. I’ll be throwing my name in the hat, and we’ll see how we go,” said Smith.
“I feel like in every opportunity I’ve had in T20 cricket recently and franchise stuff, I’ve played quite nicely. So hopefully I just keep putting my name up there and enjoying it.”
Also Check: BBL 2024-25 Squad, New Signings – Big Bash League
