Green joins Test teammates in signing BBL deal

Cameron Green has become the latest Australian Test star to commit to the Big Bash this summer after inking a deal to revive his Perth Scorchers career in BBL|12.

The supremely talented allrounder is expected be available for the Scorchers' final six matches of the regular season following the conclusion of the Sydney New Year's Test against South Africa.

The 23-year-old hasn't played for the Scorchers since BBL|09, which was the summer before he burst onto the international stage and established himself in Australia's Test side.

Green is quickly becoming a three-format player for Australia, impressing during one-day international tours of Pakistan and Sri Lanka earlier this year and making his debut in the nation's T20 side against Pakistan in April.

His first game of BBL|12 could be a blockbuster match-up against his Australian teammates Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne when the Scorchers take on the Brisbane Heat at the Gabba on January 11.

He joins Test players David Warner (Sydney Thunder), Labuschagne (Brisbane Heat) and Travis Head (Adelaide Strikers) in signing Big Bash deals this month, while Khawaja (Brisbane Heat), Alex Carey (Adelaide Strikers), Mitch Swepson (Brisbane Heat) and Nathan Lyon (Sydney Sixers) had already committed to their clubs for KFC BBL|12.

Image Id: FFFA812A4D7C43D791AD40F305E0AAF9 Image Caption: Green last played for the Scorchers in BBL|09 // Getty

Steve Smith and Josh Hazlewood are the nation's remaining all-format stars yet to commit to the Big Bash this summer with Test captain Pat Cummins and left-arm speedster Mitchell Starc previously indicating they again intend to skip the tournament.

Cummins and Starc intend to prioritise their fitness for international cricket amid a gruelling summer schedule where Australia will play on as many as 70 days across all three formats between this Sunday's ODI series opener against Zimbabwe in Townsville and the end of March 2023.

Hazlewood, who credits his BBL stint with the Sixers in 2019-20 as launching the revival of his T20 career, said this week his international workloads would likely prevent him from playing in the Big Bash this summer.

"I take every game as it comes in cricket and (I) don't want to lock (myself) in for something if (I'm) not quite ready at that time," he said ahead of the first ODI in Townsville.

"There's a lot of cricket coming up before then, a lot of Test matches as well so physically I'll probably have a rest at that stage.

"But if (I) miss a little week or two through injury, it always opens the door for it, so (I'll) never say never."

South Africa's withdrawal from a three-match ODI series in mid-January has created a window for Australia's all-format stars to feature in BBL|12 this summer while also ensuring white-ball specialists such as Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa will be available for their entire season.

Warner signed a lucrative two-year deal with Sydney Thunder last Sundayestimated to be worth around what the top international talent will fetch in tomorrow's inaugural BBL Draft after the left-hander was previously linked to the UAE's new T20 league.

He will play his first BBL match in nine years this summer when he, along with Green and Australia's Test players are released to their Big Bash clubs following the Sydney Test for January 4-8.

Green can hit the ball just as hard as Warner as he proved during his blistering 70 off 55 balls that included five sixes in a Marsh One-Day Cup match against Queensland at the Gabba last November, while he also hit a second List A century during the Australia A tour of Sri Lanka in June.

Green, who watched the Scorchers claim a record fourth BBL title last season while part of the Test side's 4-0 Ashes triumph, said he was thrilled to be back with Perth after seeing how much fun the group had in BBL|11.

"I really can't wait to get back and play some good cricket for the team," he said.

Image Id: F977D340FC73421080E27296A66F0E80 Image Caption: A mural celebrating the Scorchers BBL|11 and WBBL|07 titles was unveiled in Perth earlier this month // Supplied

"The group have so much confidence in their own game, and I think they know how to win and can win from anywhere, and when you're winning games, you're having fun."

Green's recruitment rounds out Perth's local contingent of 15 domestic players, with the remaining three list spots to be filled by international recruits during Sunday's inaugural BBL|12 Draft.

WA Cricket high performance general manager Kade Harvey said having a strong and stable list of local players was crucial to BBL success.

"Cam obviously strengthens that side of things enormously," he said.

"While he hasn't played for Perth for a couple of years, he knows the way we go about things and has great relationships with our players and coaches.

"The fact he's available for a decent block of games at the back end of the tournament should also help our cause."

The Scorchers will have the sixth pick in Sunday's draft where fast bowler AJ Tye said they could be looking to strengthen their batting line-up.

"We've tended to have a batter or two (as our overseas players) and then strengthen our bowling. But if Trent Boult's available I'd like to see him, and David Willey's been a Scorcher before and done really well," Tye said.

Perth Scorchers BBL|12 squad (so far): Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Peter Hatzoglou, Nick Hobson, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kelly, Mitch Marsh, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye

Image Id: https://www.cricket.com.au/~/media/News/2022/07/BBL-draft-order?la=en&hash=4AE6FB0B4F134F189B20FE1111E0BA90E8F9850C Image Caption: The order for the BBL|12 Draft has been determined

The BBL|12 Draft will be held on Sunday, August 28 and broadcast live on Foxtel and Kayo Sports following the first ODI between Australia and Zimbabwe in Townsville.

Click here for a full list of players to have nominated for the BBL|12 Draft.