Photo Credit: Sydney Sixers
Sydney Sixers are excited to welcome Mitchell Starc back to the Club for this summer’s KFC Big Bash League.
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Starc, widely considered one of the world’s best bowlers in all formats, was part of the inaugural Sixers squad that won the first ever BBL trophy in the 2011-12 season and played 10 matches for the club between 2011-2015.
He was also a vital cog in the Sixers’ pace attack in the victorious 2012 Champions League winning squad.
Starc’s availability will be determined on Australian selection in the Test squad for the series against India, with those Sixers players selected for the entire series likely to be available for the last three games of the regular season, and the finals series.
The towering left-armer said he was delighted to be back at the club where his BBL career began and where his wife Alyssa plies her trade in the WBBL.
“It’s great to be back in magenta after five seasons away from the Big Bash,” Starc said.
“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.”
Starc added that watching Australian teammates Steve Smith and Josh Hazlewood help the Sixers lift last year’s BBL trophy had lit a fire in his belly.
“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,” he said.
“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.
“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’s some great people at the Sixers behind the scenes too.”
Sixers head coach Greg Shipperd said Starc’s return was a homecoming of sorts.
“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 colours again,” Shipperd said.
“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.”
Across 10 BBL matches for the Sixers, Starc has taken 20 wickets at an economy rate of 7.92 and a strike rate of 11.3, with best figures of 3/17.
At the 2012 Champions League Starc was named player of the tournament after netting a 14 wicket haul across the six games the Sixers played on route to taking the title.
He has also taken 45 wickets in 34 T20 internationals.
The Sixers’ BBL squad now consists of 18 players: 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
