Big Bash League outfit Sydney Thunder have roped in England pacer Chris Jordan and New Zealand batsman Anton Devcich as replacements for English duo Jos Buttler and Joe Root. Buttler and Root will not be able to ply their trade for the franchise in the second half of the season.
The England stars will leave the competition midway for England’s tour of Caribbean.
Devcich has not played international cricket for over two years but has made a name for himself with his exploits in franchise cricket. He has already plied his trade in the Pakistan Super League, the Global T20 Canada League, Caribbean Premier League and Afghanistan Premier League this year.
On the other hand, Jordan is well known in the cricketing circles. Having played 74 games for England across formats, he is a fast-bowler who has the ability to score quickly as well as pull off some unbelievable saves on the field.
“CJ is not just a great bowler but a great bloke as well, he’s someone I’ve been keen to sign for some time,” said new Thunder coach Shane Bond.
“He is someone always spoken of highly wherever you go in the world. He’s also a top fielder who can give it a whack at the end of the innings. I’m really excited to see what he can do.
“Anton has been one of the top batsmen in New Zealand for a number of years and he’s had really good year playing T20 cricket all over the world. He can bat anywhere in the top five and can bowl some left arm spin as well,” added Bond.
Buttler, meanwhile, will be looking to make an impact in the BBL once again. Earlier this year, he signed a two-year contract with the franchise after scoring 202 runs in six games last season. Buttler is one of the most dangerous batsmen in the world right now and has further enhanced his reputation by cementing his place in England’s Test team too.
Unlike Buttler, this will be Root’s maiden season in the BBL as well as franchise cricket outside England. The move will be of huge importance for Root who has been trying to improve in the shortest format of the game. England’s Test skipper had missed the T20 tri-series against Australia and New Zealand earlier this year to remain fresh for the Indian Premier League. But surprisingly, he had gone unsold.
A good performance can not only help him bag an IPL deal but will also bolster his chances of becoming a regular in the national team ahead of the World T20 in 2020.
England’s tour of the West Indies begins with a tour match in Barbados on January 15. Consequently, Buttler and Root will be able to play just seven matches. Jordan and Devcich will be available for the Thunder’s final seven preliminary games.