World Cup champion Steve Smith is set to make a surprise appearance in the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) season, donning the Sydney Sixers jersey for the club’s season opener in early December. Currently with the national men’s T20 squad in India, the 34-year-old will face the Melbourne Renegades at the SCG on December 8, just a week before the first Test between Australia and Pakistan kicks off at Perth Stadium on December 14.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the return to the Sixers, Smith stated, “It’s great to be back in the Sixers shirt,” recalling fond memories from his previous stint with the team. As an original member of the first squad, Smith looks forward to rekindling the experience after playing five BBL matches last summer, amassing 346 runs at an impressive average of 86.50 and a strike rate of 174.74.

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Notably, he remains the only Sixers cricketer to have scored a century in the men’s competition.There’s a possibility of Smith making another BBL appearance before the Test series against the West Indies in January, as the Sixers face their cross-town rivals at the SCG on January 12, just five days before the first Test at Adelaide Oval on January 17.

Sixers captain Moises Henriques expressed the team’s eagerness to have Smith on board, emphasizing his stature as one of the best players in the game and a valuable presence in the squad.

Fresh off his successes in winning the World Test Championship, retaining the Ashes, and lifting the World Cup, Smith recently showcased his form with a half-century in Australia’s first T20 against India in Visakhapatnam. Collaborating with centurion Josh Inglis, the duo set a record 130-run partnership, further solidifying Smith’s reputation as one of the most entertaining players in the world. The prospect of fans witnessing Smith’s brilliance in the upcoming BBL season is a compelling opportunity for the Sixers and cricket enthusiasts alike.