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Mitchell Starc has signed with the Sydney Sixers for the Big Bash League but the Australian tearaway is unlikely to play this summer.
Instead, Starc will be on call as a mentor for the side’s bowling attack, serve as membership ambassador and can take to the field if a window opens up in his busy schedule.
The left-arm paceman has re-joined the Sixers as part of the BBL’s marquee supplementary list system introduced for this summer.
The move allows Australia’s busy international players to have an affiliation with a team and play for them if they become available.
It is aimed at combating criticism Australia’s top domestic talent often miss the BBL through Test duty, and seeks to prevent a repeat of the infamous Steve Smith signing fiasco.
In the summer before last, long-time Sixer and Australia star batter Smith was blocked from playing in the tournament as he was not on the pre-approved replacement players list.
“Clubs and players alike have looked at the new mechanisms we’ve built into the contracting rules and have taken advantage of that,” BBL general manager Alistair Dobson told AAP of the supplementary list system.
“I’m really excited about the players that are in the comp this year. It’s shaping really well.”
Starc is guaranteed a flat $50,000 fee even if he does not play and would receive additional $30,000 match payments for any appearance he makes.
Mitchell Starc of Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Australia’s ‘big-three’ fast-bowlers – Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood – have not been seen in the BBL in recent years, prioritising international duty amid a hectic schedule.
This summer’s condensed BBL schedule runs in tandem with the Test program, meaning the three quicks again appear unlikely to feature.
But Test teammates including Smith, Nathan Lyon, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja are all set to make cameo appearances.
Starc was a member of the Sixers’ squad in the first four editions of the BBL and again in the summer of 2020/21, though did not play in the most recent of those tournaments.
© AAP
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