Hazlewood puts eyes on T20 prize with Sixers deal

Josh Hazlewood is set to play in the KFC BBL for the first time in six seasons after striking a deal to return to the Sydney Sixers this summer.

Hazlewood will join fellow internationals Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon in Sixers' magenta in BBL|09 but the trio may not be seen until the back end of the competition.

All three Test stars will miss the early stages of the Big Bash competition while in Baggy Green playing for Australia in the Domain Test Series against New Zealand.

And their availability for the Sixers will hinge on whether or not they are included in Australia's ODI squad that will head to India for a whirlwind three-match ODI series in mid-January.

Australia's ODI internationals are expected to be available for the final few games of the regular season and the revamped Finals series, meaning the Sixers will add some extra firepower to their side for a possible title charge.

Hazlewood was part of the inaugural Sixers squad that won the first ever BBL trophy in the 2011-12 season and played 14 matches for the club between 2011-2014, taking 21 wickets at an average of 20.19, with best figures of 3-16.

"I joined the Sixers back when the BBL started and while I haven't had much of an opportunity to play since, I always enjoyed my time there," Hazlewood said.

"We've had some good times, like winning the first BBL and the Champions League in South Africa in 2012, and I'm looking forward to see what we can do this season."

The 50-Test veteran who is closing in on 200 Test wickets has limited experience in the shortest format of the game. In addition to the 14 matches with the Sixers, he has only played seven T20 internationals, the last of which was in March 2016.

But with the T20 World Cup to be hosted by Australia next October, there's an increasing focus on the format for the nation's leading international players.

Hazlewood has also nominated for next year's IPL player draft, a tournament he is yet to feature in.

The 'Bendemeer Bullet' was drafted by the Mumbai Indians in 2014 but did not feature in that season. He was retained by the franchise the following year but opted out of the tournament following Australia's World Cup triumph and given the tours of the West Indies and the UK that followed.

Hazlewood has nominated himself for the 2020 IPL auction at the maximum base price of AUD$410,000 (INR 2 crore). Fellow Australians Pat Cummins, Chris Lynn, Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell also entered the auction with that base price.

Aussie quick Mitchell Starc – who has also played for the Sydney Sixers but does not currently hold a BBL|09 contract – did not enter the IPL auction.

A total of 55 Australians nominated for the auction, which will be held on December 19 in Kolkata.

Sydney Sixers BBL|09 squad: Sean Abbott, Justin Avendano, Tom Curran (England), Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Mickey Edwards, Daniel Fallins, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques (c), Daniel Hughes, Nathan Lyon, Peter Nevill, Stephen O'Keefe, Josh Philippe, Lloyd Pope, Jordan Silk, Steve Smith, Henry Thornton, James Vince (England).