Big Bash League (BBL) franchise Sydney Sixers have confirmed that Steve Smith has returned to their camp for the upcoming edition. Smith has signed a whopping AUD 250,000 deal with the Sixers for a four-game BBL stint.
The contract is set to be a huge boost for Australia’s premier T20 competition, with both Cricket Australia (CA) and Cricket New Wales (NSW) reportedly paying upwards of AUD 100,000 to secure Smith’s services.
Smith will play his first BBL|12 match after the third Test against South Africa, which is scheduled to finish on January 8, 2023.
“One of the sport’s all-time greats, Smith is set to return home after the Sixers struck a deal for him to join their squad as a replacement player, seeing the prolific run-scorer pull on magenta for the first time since BBL|09 when he was part of the title winning team.
“The 33-year-old, who captained Australia in last week’s Test match in Adelaide, will be formally named as a replacement player for one of the Sixers international recruits when they depart in January, following the completion of Smith’s international commitments,” read the statement on Sixers’ official website.
Smith’s time at the Sixers will include the Sydney derby against David Warner’s Thunder at the SCG on January 21. His return to the club will mark the first time he has played in the BBL since 2019-20.
The 33-year-old attempted to represent the Sixers last summer but was controversially precluded as he did not nominate himself for the players’ replacement pool.
