Photo Credit: Sydney Sixers
Tasmanian Tigers’ cricketers Tom Rogers and Lawrence Neil-Smith have joined the Sydney Sixers as replacement players for part of BBL|10.
Rogers, who spent three years at the Hobart Hurricanes during BBL|07–BBL|09, will step in for Sean Abbott while the Sixers’ all-rounder is on Australian team duty, with Neil-Smith to provide cover for fellow Tiger Jackson Bird while he is away for the first two BBL games representing Australia A.
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Both players come to the defending BBL champions highly recommended by another Tiger, Sixers’ stalwart Jordan Silk.
Silk said he was excited to see what the pair could do if called upon in the starting Xl throughout their stints in magenta.
“Tom can bowl anywhere in the innings and play varied roles. He’s aggressive and can make a difference with the bat and ball,” Silk said.
“And Lawrence is very talented and has a big future in all forms of cricket, both red and white ball. Hopefully he will learn a lot in the time he’s with us.”
Rogers said he was grateful for the call up after missing out on a new Hurricanes deal and was now willing to contribute to the Sixers in any way he could.
“Getting a call to come up is something I’m so grateful for,” Rogers said.
“The Big Bash is so hard to play in but it’s a lot of fun. I’d like to take a few wickets and have some impacts on a few wins.
“I’d like to think I can bowl any over throughout the 20. I like to prepare myself to fit any situation and be an all-round player. You want to do your best for those people who have given me an opportunity.”
Neil-Smith came through the Cricket NSW Pathways with new Sixers teammate Jack Edwards but made his First Class debut last summer for Tasmania, producing a strong performance with bat and ball. This will be his first foray in the BBL.
Like Rogers, the 21-year-old was over the moon to have received an opportunity within a BBL club, even if it was just for the two games that Bird would be absent.
“Finding out I’d be with the Sixers was one of the most exciting phone calls I’d received for a long time,” Neil-Smith said.
“I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face for a few hours.
“Any opportunity at that next level, I know I’ll learn lots.”
The Sixers begin their training camp in Sydney on November 30, before moving to Hobart on December 5. The reigning champions will begin their title defence against the Hobart Hurricanes at Blundstone Arena on Thursday December 10.
The Sixers will play three games at the SCG on January 16, 22 and 24, 2021.
The Sixers’ BBL squad now consists of 20 players: Justin Avendano (injury replacement for Mickey Edwards), Carlos Brathwaite, Dan Christian, Tom Curran, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques (c), Jason Holder, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Nathan Lyon, Ben Manenti, Lawrence Neil-Smith (local replacement player for Jackson Bird), Stephen O’Keefe, Josh Philippe, Lloyd Pope, Tom Rogers (local replacement player for Sean Abbott), Jordan Silk, Mitchell Starc, James Vince
Name of Author: Sydney Sixers
The Sydney Sixers are an Australian professional Twenty20 cricket team competing in the Big Bash League (BBL). Based at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the Sixers, along with the Sydney Thunder, succeeded the New South Wales Blues from the now-defunct KFC Twenty20 Big Bash.
