Photo Credit: Sydney Sixers
Australian superstar Mitchell Starc is set to return home to the Sydney Sixers this summer, joining the Sixers marquee supplementary player’ list ahead of KFC BBL|13.
But Starc’s role will be vastly different to the one played in his first four seasons with the club from BBL|01 to BBL|04. He was also part of the club’s squad in BBL|10 but did not take the field.
This season, Starc is unlikely to take the field due to his commitments with Australia during the international summer, but the much-loved quick has put his hand up to become the club’s Membership Ambassador. He will also provide some mentorship to the squad’s fast bowlers.
As per new rules implemented by the league this summer, Cricket Australia contracted players who are expected at the time of the contracting period to be unavailable for the Big Bash season, may be signed to the club’s marquee supplementary list.
One of the club’s foundation members, Starc is a two-time title-winner with the Sixers, lifting the trophy in the inaugural season of the competition (BBL|01) and then again in the 2012 edition of the Champions League Twenty20.
The recruitment of the Aussie superstar will also reunite Starc with old friends and former teammates, Moises Henriques, Steve Smith and Steve O’Keefe, with the iconic quartet all back in magenta for the first time in close to a decade.
One of the sport’s most recognisable faces, the speedster has put pen to paper with the club on the back of an unforgettable season in Australian colours – returning home for the summer with the Ashes retained, the World Test Championship won and an ODI World Cup trophy in tow.
“I’d love to be able to play for the club this summer, but my international schedule doesn’t really allow for it,” Starc said.
“(But) I’m a Sixer at heart and when I was offered the opportunity to come back into the squad via the marquee supplementary player list I jumped at the chance.
“I’ll be doing everything I can to help the club, whether that’s talking to some of the bowlers or helping promote memberships and our matches at the SCG.”
Starc’s role as the Membership Ambassador comes off the back of record membership numbers for the Sixers this summer, with the club’s all-time membership record smashed, even before a ball has been bowled in the BBL.
