David Warner is all set to return to the Big Bash League after a nine year hiatus since 2013, signing a two-year contract with Sydney Thunder.
Earlier, there were reports that David Warner would ply his trade in the new ILT20 league in the UAE rather than the BBL after the cancellation of the South Africa ODI series in January opened up space for Australia’s multi-format players to participate in other leagues.
The matter, however, has now been put to rest as Warner would be playing in BBL next year. He credited his daughters for his decision to stay put in Australia and return to his former club.
“My ‘girls’ have told me that they’d love to watch me play at home and in the BBL,” Warner was quoted as saying on cricket.com.au.
“It will be great for us to be a part of the BBL as a family, and it is something that I am really looking forward to sharing with them.”
The two-year deal sees Warner return to the club where he has played two of the three BBL matches in his career so far. He should be available for five regular matches for his franchise in the BBL after the final Test against South Africa concludes in Sydney and then the finals if Thunder go the distance.
“I care deeply about the game, and I am conscious that the conditions that I enjoy as a professional cricketer have largely come from other senior players who have come before me,” he said. “That is how the game is structured and I understand that my contribution to the future of the BBL will hopefully benefit the next generation of players long after I am retired.”
This is good for the BBL because the league can only survive if the top Australian cricketers come and participate and this is certainly a step in the right direction.
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