Warner signs full-BBL contract with Thunder; Smith inks deal with Sixers

Two of Australia’s batting stalwarts, Steven Smith and David Warner, have inked long-term Big Bash League (BBL) deals ahead of the start of the new season in Australia’s premier T20 competition. 

Warner, who has retired from all forms of international cricket signed his first-ever full-BBL contract in his career as he would represent the Thunder for the next two years. 

"Davey is popular wherever he plays, right around the world, particularly in India, and I know the South Asian communities in Sydney's west will get right behind him at Thunder," Trent Copeland, the Thunder general manager, was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

"In Davey, we get a world-class talent with almost 20 years of T20 experience and now that he has retired from international cricket, we can count on his full focus and commitment for the entire tournament, including the finals,” he added as the team welcomed Warner, who will be playing his first full BBL since the tournament’s beginning in 2011-12. 

Overall, the southpaw has scored 301 runs in 11 innings across four different seasons of the BBL with an average of 33.44 and a strike rate of 134.38. He has hit a fifty and a hundred as well. 

Smith, who recently won the Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA with Washington Freedom as skipper, signed a three-year deal with the Sixers. To balance his international responsibilities, he will be available for four games this season. 

Left out from the squad for Australia's T20 World Cup squad over the winter, Smith played cricket for the Ricky Ponting-coached Washington Freedom in the Major League Cricket this July where he captained them to the title. Smith is looking to make a case for his IPL comeback and this BBL season could come in handy for him. 

Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey, two of Australia’s Test squad mainstays, will remain with their franchises, Brisbane Heat and Adelaide Strikers, respectively. Carey has signed a four-year deal with the Strikers. 

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