There’ll be no repeat of the farcical scenes that saw Steve Smith sidelined from last summer’s BBL competition, with the batting great signing a deal with the Sydney Sixers.
Smith will play as many as four matches for the Sixers this summer, the first time he’s turned out for the club since February 2020. Smith captained the Sixers to victory in the very first edition of the BBL, back in 2011-12.
One of those four matches is a local derby against David Warner’s Sydney Thunder on January 21 at the SCG.
“Steve Smith is a Sixer. He has been part of this club from the start, and he will be part of this club for as long as he wants to be,” said veteran Moises Henriques.
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“He has always known that the door is open to him playing with us again and we are really excited that our fans will get to see him in four matches in the latter half of the season, including two at the SCG.
“He’s focused on the Test summer right now but once that is over, we will welcome him back with open arms.”
Sixers boss Jonathan Robinson-Lees welcomed the news of Smith’s return.
“Steve and his management recently confirmed he will be available to play in this summer’s Big Bash, after his international commitments have finished in January.” Robinson-Lees said.
“That is great news for the Sixers, the BBL and for fans.
“We are really excited for the team and especially our fans, who will now get to see one of the world’s greatest players in magenta this summer.”
Smith had wanted to play for the Sixers during last summer’s competition, but was blocked in ridiculous circumstances after the club tried to bring him in as a replacement player.
It was a self-inflicted black eye for the competition, which has struggled for star power in recent years. This year’s tournament has already taken a hit, with big names Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh sidelined by injury.
“This game is crying out for the best players in the world, and the best players in the country. Steve Smith is that player,” Sixers spinner Steve O’Keefe said last week.
“Last year, he wanted to play and he would have played for absolute peanuts. The powers that be decided that he could but it was going to be too difficult a decision.
“When we’re trying to build brands and we’re trying to build the quality of this, we need guys like Steve Smith playing.”
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