Sydney Sixers have filled nine of 10 list spots before the trade period as Sean Abbott recommits for another season
The KFC BBL’s most prolific bowler of all-time, Sean Abbott, has extended his stay with Sydney Sixers into a 14th straight season.
Abbott, who has taken 181 Big Bash wickets in 129 matches across a 15-year career to lead retiring veteran Andrew Tye (162), has signed a one-year extension that will keep him at the Sixers until at least the end of BBL|16.
The right-armer missed the start of this season as he recovered from a hamstring injury, which also dashed his hopes of a Test debut this summer as he was forced out of the Australian squad before the first Ashes Test.
Abbott returned on Boxing Day against the Stars with his six wickets in four games helping spearhead the Sixers’ charge towards finals in the second half of BBL|15 after they dropped their opening two games.
“The Sixers environment brings out the best in me and I’m hungry to help this group push for more success,” Abbott, who played a key role on the club’s BBL|09 and |10 championships, said today.
“I feel grateful to have been part of this group throughout my career and even more grateful to keep pulling on the magenta alongside my teammates.”
Every wicket: Record-breaking Abbott excels again
The 33-year-old joined the Sixers in BBL|03 after spending the first two seasons with crosstown rivals Sydney Thunder.
He’s the second Sixer to recommit to the club in recent days with middle-order batter Jordan Silk penning a two-year extension last week. Crucially for the Sixers, the pair of re-signings locks away Abbott and Silk before the post-season trade and free agency period.
“Sean brings an edge to everything he does,” Sixers general manager Rachael Haynes said in a statement.
“He’s ultra-competitive, incredibly consistent and someone our group looks up to.
“Whether it’s with the ball in hand or setting the tone in the field, he makes things happen in the magenta and we’re thrilled to have him with us through to the end of BBL|16.”
Abbott joins fellow quick Ben Dwarshuis (BBL|17) – the third highest wicket-taker in the competition’s history (159) – as well as Aussie star Steve Smith, Josh Philippe, Joel Davies, Jack Edwards, Hayden Kerr, Lachlan Shaw (all BBL|16) and Silk (BBL|17) as the players committed to the Sixers beyond this season.
Each club can re-sign up to 10 players prior to a league contracting embargo coming into force on the Tuesday (January 27 at 5pm) after the final.
The Sixers face the Thunder tonight at the SCG in a blockbuster Sydney Smash where superstar left-armer Mitchell Starc is set to play his first Big Bash game in more than a decade.
They then finish the regular season with a sudden-death clash against Brisbane Heat at the Gabba on Sunday where the winner will secure a finals spot.
Meanwhile, emerging fast bowler Mahli Beardman has also extended his Perth Scorchers contract until the end of BBL|16.
The 20-year-old capable of hitting speeds in excess of 140kph has collected seven wickets in eight games this season, including two-wicket hauls in his past two matches, where he collected the prized scalp of Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey against the Strikers with a cleverly disguised slower ball.
“We are really pleased to have secured Mahli for another BBL campaign,” Scorchers high performance boss Kade Harvey said.
“We feel Mahli’s well suited to the conditions here in Perth and his pace gives our bowling group some real potency. He’s also shown great maturity and adaptability in conditions all around the country.
“We’ve been really impressed with Mahli’s development over the past 12 months, as well as his appetite to improve, and we see him as an important part of our squad moving forward.”
KFC BBL|15 standings
Team
Matches played
M
Wins
W
Losses
L
Ties
T
No results
N/R
Net Run Rate
NRR
Deductions
Ded.
Total points
PTS
1
Hobart Hurricanes Men
HUR
10
6
3
0
1
0.331
0
13
2
Perth Scorchers Men
SCO
9
6
3
0
0
1.319
0
12
3
Melbourne Stars Men
STA
9
6
3
0
0
1.031
0
12
4
Sydney Sixers Men
SIX
9
5
3
0
1
0.566
0
11
5
Brisbane Heat Men
HEA
9
5
4
0
0
-0.375
0
10
6
Adelaide Strikers Men
STR
9
3
6
0
0
-0.625
0
6
7
Melbourne Renegades Men
REN
9
3
6
0
0
-0.91
0
6
8
Sydney Thunder Men
THU
10
2
8
0
0
-1.212
0
4
Legend
M: Matches played
W: Wins
L: Losses
T: Ties
N/R: No results
NRR: Net Run Rate
Ded.: Deductions
PTS: Total points