BBL 2019-20: Sydney Sixers re-sign Steve Smith for the upcoming season

Sydney Sixers have pulled off a big coup by re-signing Australia star Steve Smith for the forthcoming season of Big Bash League. The former Australia captain is expected to be available for the closing stages of the regular season and the finals series if the Sixers make that far. Smith was a part of the Sydney Sixers squad that won the first season of BBL.

He last played for the Sixers way back in 2014 before becoming the batting mainstay of the Australia team. Smith spent the first four seasons of the BBL with the Sydney Sixers and led them for much of their title-winning campaign in 2011-12. The Australian schedule will allow Smith to don the Sixers’ jersey once again.

Smith’s first game could be against the Melbourne Stars at the SCG on January 20. In case he misses that game, he is more than likely to be available for the bumper clash against Brisbane Heat on January 23 at the Gabba. The Sixers’ final regular-season game is at home on January 25 against the reigning champions Melbourne Renegades.

Steve Smith excited

Steve Smith has played 26 games for the Sixers (20 in the BBL, six in the now-defunct Champions League T20). He is in good form at the moment, having scored T20I fifty each against Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the ongoing home season. The right-handed batsman averaged 146 with a strike rate of 152.08 against Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The star batsman said he is excited to play for the Sixers once again. The 30-year old said he could not stop himself from signing up for the team once he saw the opportunity. Smith said he is looking forward to playing with his Sixers teammate early next year.

“I am excited about getting an opportunity to play for the Sydney Sixers again,” Smith said as quoted by Sportstar.

“When the schedule came out and I saw there was a chance to wear the Magenta again I jumped at the opportunity and look forward to joining up with the team after my January national team commitments have ended,” he added.

The Sixers, meanwhile, released wicketkeeper Peter Nevill to make room for Smith in the team. The Sydney-based outfit kick off their season on December 18 against three-time champions Perth Scorchers at the SCG.

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