'The Sweepologist' has signed a two-year deal with Adelaide Strikers to return to where his T20 career began
Ross returns to where BBL journey began
Alex Ross' decade-long career in the Big Bash League has travelled full circle with his impending return to Adelaide Strikers where the veteran batter's T20 journey began in 2014.
Ross, 32, has signed a two-year deal to rejoin the Strikers after subsequent stints with Brisbane Heat (2016-18) and Sydney Thunder (2019-23).
He has also been part of T20 franchise competitions in the West Indies, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and played 18 Marsh Sheffield Shield as well as almost 50 One-Day Cup matches for South Australia.
Adelaide Strikers BBL|14 squad (so far): James Bazley, Jordan Buckingham, Cameron Boyce, Brendan Doggett, Alex Ross, D'Arcy Short, Matt Short, Jake Weatherald
"It's really exciting to be back at the Strikers and back where it all began," Ross said today.
"I can't wait to be regularly playing on Adelaide Oval again in front of the best fans in the league.
"It's a great time to re-join the Strikers, our list is in a really good spot after a great finals run last season and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve in BBL|14."
The right-hander, nicknamed 'The Sweepologist' given his fondness for the stroke that reflects his boyhood involvement in hockey while growing up in New Zealand, is one of only 27 players to have compiled 100-plus KFC BBL appearances.
Ross made his debut with the Strikers in BBL|04 against a Melbourne Stars line-up that included ex-England skipper Kevin Pietersen.
In 18 appearances for the Strikers across two seasons before his shift to Brisbane, he scored 247 runs striking at an impressive rate of 143.6.
In his overall career, Ross has posted 1920 BBL runs with nine 50s and a personal best of 77no (for Sydney Thunder against Melbourne Stars in BBL|11) at a rate of 128.09 as a middle-order batter.
The Strikers, who are yet to appoint a coach for BBL|14 after Jason Gillespie took up a role as men's Test team coach with Pakistan, recently announced fast bowler Jordan Buckingham has signed with the club after fellow quick Wes Agar was traded to the Thunder.
"We've already seen firsthand what Alex can bring to the team and we are really pleased to be welcoming him back," Strikers' interim general manager Shaun Williams said today.
"Alex has been incredibly consistent throughout his entire Big Bash career and will provide great stability to our middle-order.
"We're looking forward to seeing Alex back in blue for the next two seasons."