Former Australia cricketer David Warner is getting ready for a full Big Bash League season as he signed a new two-year deal with Sydney Thunder. The 36-year-old Warner, who announced his retirement from international cricket recently, will be available for the entire tournament. Warner played eight matches in the past two BBL seasons for the Thunder, but now that his international commitments are all behind him, he can feature throughout the competition and entertain fans.
The return of Warner to the Thunder will definitely be watched with a lot of eagerness, more by the South Asian communities on western Sydney who have been his ardent supporters. “Davey is an international star, more so in India, and his coming into the Thunder will pull massive crowds to the venue,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Trent Copeland, the general manager of the Thunder.
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“Warner has spent almost 20 years playing T20 cricket, bringing world-class talent into the team. He is now retired from international cricket, so we can bank on his full focus and commitment, more so in the critical stages of the event.”
Apart from Warner, Steve Smith has also declared his BBL future by signing a three-year contract with Sydney Sixers. Smith will turn up for four games for the Sixers and could face Warner in a blockbuster clash versus Sydney Thunder.
With the signing of a new two-year contract with Sydney Thunder, David Warner will be available to play the whole BBL season for the first time in his career.#DavidWarner #CricketUpdate #BBLSeason #SydneyThunder #viratkholi pic.twitter.com/RdtMdEZF3e
— Khan Dada (@khandada92786) August 20, 2024
While Smith has not yet announced his retirement from international cricket, his availability for the BBL is proving to be a massive boost for the tournament. If Smith were to turn his back on international cricket sooner rather than later, he could also commit to a full BBL season.
Smith declared himself excited about the upcoming season but remained noncommittal on his future in international cricket. “I’m just enjoying playing at the moment,” Steve Smith said. “This summer is going to be exciting, especially with India’s tour. We’re probably the two best Test teams in the world, and I’m excited for the challenge.”
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Meanwhile, Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey have resigned with Brisbane Heat and Adelaide Strikers respectively. Australia’s Test players, including Labuschagne and Carey, are supposed to be available to BBL teams between the end of the Sydney Test against India and their departure for Sri Lanka on 21 January, 2025—when the BBL enters its knockout stages.
