James Vince joins Sydney Sixers as countryman’s replacement

The Sydney Sixers have snared the vital signature of England Test, ODI and T20 international batsman for the remainder of the BBL season as their overseas replacement for Joe Denly.

James Vince played for the Sixers’ Sydney rival last season. Picture: Brett Costello

The Sydney Sixers have snared the valuable signature of England batsman James Vince for the remainder of the Big Bash Season as their overseas replacement for Joe Denly.

The Sixers will confirm Vince’s appointment on Friday after reaching an agreement with the 27-year-old to join them for the second half of the season.

An elegant strokemaker who played for the Thunder last season, Vince arrives at the Sixers at the perfect time after Denly left to join the England squad in the Caribbean.

“Like any international player, they are international players for a reason, they bring great skill expertise,” Sixers’ coach Greg Shipperd told The Daily Telegraph.

James Vince played for the Sixers’ Sydney rival last season. Picture: Brett Costello

“James has played at the highest level all around the world, at a range of different cricketing venues and competitions and he’s played in the Big Bash before.

“He’s a county captain (Hampshire) so he brings cricketing knowledge into our group which Joe and other international players have done in the past so we’re thrilled to be have been able to replace Joe with James.”

Vince has just played three T10 games in Sharjah and two T20 matches in New Zealand in the past seven weeks and will be available for the Sixers’ next game against the Scorchers in Perth on Sunday.

Joe Denly is heading home after a mixed stint with the Sixers. Picture: Getty

Shipperd is still undecided whether he will use Vince to open the innings or come in at No.3 but expects him to score runs wherever he bats.

“He’s a terrific striker of the ball both sides of the wicket and he generally plays in the upper order somewhere so we’ll think really closely about our one-two-three combination but I’m sure he’ll be considered for one of those,” Shipperd said.

The Sixers have already chosen wisely with their English imports this season, with Denly leaving the squad on a high after a scoring an unbeaten 76 in last Sunday’s win over the Adelaide Strikers to lift the team to second spot on the BBL ladder.

England all-rounder Tom Curran has been one of the star players of the tournament, averaging 37 with the bat and capturing 11 wickets with the ball.

Vince will team-up with fellow Englishman Tom Curran. Picture: AAP

Curran will team up with Vince for the rest of the competition and if Shipperd gets his way, he could be back next season.

“He’s just been a beautiful all round player in terms of what he can deliver in terms of taking wickets through the middle and closing off at the back end,” Shipperd said.

“He works incredibly hard, he’s a real worker and still learning his game but his game’s already at an elite level with bat and ball and is a super fielder.

“He’s young and he’s got energy and he’s got a voice and ideas and opinions and he’s just been sensational so we love him and hopefully can look to the future as well around his availability because he’s been a winner.”