Sydney Sixers will play Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL 10 opener on 10 December.
Australian speedster Mitchell Starc, who is widely considered as one of the world’s best bowlers in all formats, has decided to return to the Big Bash League's (BBL) upcoming 10th edition in 2020-2021 after a six-year absence.
The towering left-armer has returned to his old BBL club for the upcoming tournament, signing up with the Sydney Sixers for the upcoming BBL 10 starting later this year in Australia.
Star was part of the Sydney Sixers during the inaugural edition of the BBL and went on to play till 2011-2015. He was a vital cog in the Sixers’ pace attack in their victorious BBL campaign in 2012.
The fast-bowler has played 10 matches for the Sixers between 2011-2015 and scalped 20 wickets at an economy rate of 7.92 and a strike rate of 11.3, with best figures of 3/17.
However, Starc’s availability for the BBL 2020-2021 will be determined on Australian selection in the Test squad for the four-match Test series against India, with the selected players to be available for the last three games of the regular season and the finals series.
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He was delighted to be back in magenta after five seasons away from the BBL having started his BBL career at the club to which his wife Alyssa plies her trade in the Women’s BBL.
Starc said in a Sydney Sixers press release, “It's great to be back in magenta after five seasons away from the Big Bash. I started at the Sixers at BBL01 and it’s nice to continue that journey at a club I’ve still been around with my wife Alyssa involved with the Sixers.”
The paceman further said watching Smith and Hazlewood help the Sixers lift the BBL trophy last year had ignited a fire in his belly to be part of the tournament.
Starc said, “I’ve been watching from afar, the Big Bash, so it’s nice to be back involved this year and seeing the guys run around it’s a great product. It’s a great time of the year for cricket in Australia and the Big Bash just shows that level of cricket and I guess that excitement that everyone wants to watch.”
He concluded, “I was watching Steve and Josh get back involved last year, and still being around and involved with the club I saw a little bit of an opportunity to jump back in. I’m just really looking forward to being back with some of my really close mates that play for NSW and the Sixers. There are some great people at the Sixers behind the scenes too.”
Meanwhile, Sixers' head coach Greg Shipperd said they can’t wait to see Starc in magenta again in the BBL 10 starting on the 10th of December in Bellerive Oval.
Shipperd further said of Starc’s signing, “As with last season when we were blessed with the presence of Steve Smith and Josh Hazelwood, who both made a huge contribution to our winning effort, we hope Mitch gets to express himself in his home colors again.”
The coach signed off by saying, “He is a maximum impact player who is a world-class T20 fast bowler as well as being in the upper echelons across the other formats. Mitch and Alyssa really are part of the fabric of our franchise. We in the team and I’m sure all of our fans, look forward to the day Mitch reappears for the Sixers. We can’t wait.”
Here’s Sixers' BBL squad for BBL 10:
Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Dan Christian, Tom Curran, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Mickey Edwards, Moises Henriques (c), Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Nathan Lyon, Ben Manenti, Stephen O'Keefe, Josh Philippe, Lloyd Pope, Jordan Silk, Mitchell Starc, James Vince
(With sydneysixers.com.au Inputs)