Smith set for Warner showdown as stand-off ends

1 year ago 95

There'll beryllium nary repetition of the farcical scenes that saw Steve Smith sidelined from past summer's BBL competition, with the batting large signing a woody with the Sydney Sixers.

Smith volition play arsenic galore arsenic 4 matches for the Sixers this summer, the archetypal clip he's turned retired for the nine since February 2020. Smith captained the Sixers to triumph successful the precise archetypal variation of the BBL, backmost successful 2011-12.

One of those 4 matches is simply a section derby against David Warner's Sydney Thunder connected January 21 astatine the SCG.

"Steve Smith is simply a Sixer. He has been portion of this nine from the start, and helium volition beryllium portion of this nine for arsenic agelong arsenic helium wants to be," said seasoned Moises Henriques.

"He has ever known that the doorway is unfastened to him playing with america again and we are truly excited that our fans volition get to spot him successful 4 matches successful the second fractional of the season, including 2 astatine the SCG.

"He's focused connected the Test summertime close present but erstwhile that is over, we volition invited him backmost with unfastened arms."

Sixers brag Jonathan Robinson-Lees welcomed the quality of Smith's return.

"Steve and his absorption precocious confirmed helium volition beryllium disposable to play successful this summer's Big Bash, aft his planetary commitments person finished successful January." Robinson-Lees said.

"That is large quality for the Sixers, the BBL and for fans.

"We are truly excited for the squad and particularly our fans, who volition present get to spot 1 of the world's top players successful magenta this summer."

Smith had wanted to play for the Sixers during past summer's competition, but was blocked successful ridiculous circumstances aft the nine tried to bring him successful arsenic a replacement player.

It was a self-inflicted achromatic oculus for the competition, which has struggled for prima powerfulness successful caller years. This year's tourney has already taken a hit, with large names Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh sidelined by injury.

"This crippled is crying retired for the champion players successful the world, and the champion players successful the country. Steve Smith is that player," Sixers spinner Steve O'Keefe said past week.

"Last year, helium wanted to play and helium would person played for implicit peanuts. The powers that beryllium decided that helium could but it was going to beryllium excessively hard a decision.

"When we're trying to physique brands and we're trying to physique the prime of this, we request guys similar Steve Smith playing."

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