Photo Credit: Sydney Sixers
James Vince began his Sydney Sixers career as a quiet achiever called in as an international replacement but returns to the club for KFC BBL|11 as a bone fide Big Bash superstar.
Despite several attractive offers from rival franchises, Vince put pen to paper for his fourth campaign with the men in Magenta off the back of his late season heroics last summer that played a huge part in propelling the Sixers to back-to-back BBL titles.
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The 30-year-old, who has played for England in all three forms of the game, scored an unbeaten 98 off 53 balls in the grand final qualifier against the Perth Scorchers at Manuka Oval before pounding 95 from 60 against the Scorchers at a heaving SCG to set up victory in the final.
Since that BBL final, Vince’s Pakistan Super League team won the interrupted PSL season title, he was recalled to the England white ball team for ODI and T20I duties and earlier this month skippered Southern Brave to the inaugural The Hundred title in the UK.
The international batsman joins fellow English star Tom Curran and West Indian icon Carlos Brathwaite on the Sixers’ list with just one player remaining to fill the club’s 18-player BBL|11 roster.
Vince’s match winning knock and sensational diving catch in the second innings earned him Player of the Match honours in the final and a place in Sixers’ folklore, a place he rightfully but humbly sits.
“I don’t play for the personal accolades or awards, I play to be part of a winning team,” Vince said.
“What the Sixers have built on and off the field over the last few years is something really special and something I am proud to be part of. They are just a great bunch of lads and it’s everyone – players, coaches, support staff, the supporters.
“Shippy (Head Coach Greg Shipperd) creates an environment that we can all thrive in and we are all motivated to do our job for the team and our members and fans.
“To experience that final last season at the SCG, in what was our first trip back there all year, was something I’ll never forget.
“When the Scorchers dropped a catch the place erupted and it was the loudest noise I’ve ever heard on a cricket field. The fans were incredible.
“How could you not want to come back for more of that?”
Vince forms a lethal opening pair at the top of the Sixers order with BBL|10 Player of the Tournament Josh Philippe and both will be crucial to the team’s chances of capturing an unprecedented BBL three-peat.
But Vince points out the side is not reliant on just a few players.
“We have so much depth and Shippy makes sure that everyone in the squad and even those on the fringes of the squad are ready to step in and play every single game,” he said.
“It takes a lot of pressure off to just go out and play freely when you know there’s a whole team behind you.
“We have a strong batting line up and bowlers that cover every role. I can’t wait to get back to Sydney.”
The Sixers BBL|11 campaign is set to get underway against the Melbourne Stars at the SCG on Sunday 5 December.
Sydney Sixers BBL Sqaud
Head Coach: Greg Shipperd
Contracted for BBL|11: Moises Henriques (C), Sean Abbott, Carlos Brathwaite, Daniel Christian, Tom Curran (ENG), Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Mickey Edwards, Daniel Hughes, Stephen O’Keefe, Hayden Kerr, Nathan Lyron, Ben Manenti, Josh Philippe, Lloyd Pope, Jordan Silk, James Vince.
