Steve Smith could play in the Big Bash League (BBL) beyond his Test career as part of a new three-year deal to remain at the Sydney Sixers.
It comes as the Sydney Thunder expect recently-retired David Warner to be available for the entirety of the upcoming BBL as part his new two-year contract announced on Tuesday.
Warner’s former Test teammates Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey have also re-signed with Brisbane Heat and Adelaide Strikers respectively ahead of the Twenty20 competition’s 14th edition.
Smith, Labuschagne and Carey are set to be available between the end of the Sydney Test against India and their departure for the Sri Lanka tour on January 21, also the first day of the BBL’s knockout stage.
Smith could play as many as four Sixers games, while Labuschagne’s Heat and Carey’s Strikers each have three games in that window.
But Warner’s contract has the most short-term gravity of the four new deals announced Tuesday, with the legendary opener set to play a full BBL tournament for the first time this summer.
Warner had played cameos for the Thunder for the past two tournaments, though largely failing to live up to his billing as one of the original masters of the shortest format.
Warner averaged only 25 with the bat last summer, with 37 his highest total as the Thunder finished last on the ladder.
“(There’s a) great bunch of people, a great coach and I’ve always been a part of Thunder,” Warner said.
“I really liked the environment last year, the group we had brought a lot of energy. This year, I think we can go a couple of steps better.”
Smith would also theoretically be free to play a full BBL season, rather than just a cameo, if he chose to follow Warner and retire from Test cricket over the next three years of his contract.
Smith shapes as Warner’s replacement at the top of the Test batting order this summer, having filled the spot on the two-Test tour of New Zealand in January, but will turn 36 next June.
The former Test captain has been coy on future plans and retirement in recent times and remained so on Tuesday.
“I don’t have any plans, I’m just enjoying playing at the moment. I’m pretty relaxed and I’m looking forward to this summer,” Smith said.
“I think I’ll get a few (BBL) games in this year and then we’ll see where we go from there. Every chance I get, I jump at it.”
Labuschagne will join Brisbane, the reigning champions and his long-term BBL franchise, after India’s Australia tour concludes on January 7.
The idiosyncratic Test mainstay memorably hit 45 runs from 33 deliveries against Perth Scorchers last summer to help the Heat secure a spot in the qualifier as part of his two-game cameo.
“His game sense is exceptional and that is a huge asset to us on and off the field,” said new Heat coach Johan Botha.
Carey has signed a four-year deal with the Strikers, with whom the Test wicketkeeper has played all 56 BBL games of his eight-year career in the league.
Carey’s Strikers will be coached by his predecessor as Test wicketkeeper, Tim Paine, from this season.
Scott Boland (Melbourne Stars), Mitch Marsh (Perth Scorchers) and Nathan Lyon (Melbourne Renegades) are among the other Test stars expected to turn out in the BBL this summer.
The so-called big three quicks – Josh Hazlewood, Mitch Starc and Pat Cummins – are likely to take much-needed breaks from bowling before playing Sri Lanka rather than join their Test teammates for BBL cameos.
