‘I’m a western Sydney guy at heart’: Pat Cummins joins BBL team, but it comes with a catch

The Sydney Thunder has signed Pat Cummins for the BBL season, but the Test skipper’s new deal comes with a catch.

Test skipper Pat Cummins has signed with the Sydney Thunder as a Cricket Australia marquee supplementary player for the rest of the BBL season, but it’s highly unlikely the veteran quick will play any part due to his commitments with the national side.

A week after fellow quick Mitchell Starc signed a similar deal with the Sydney Sixers, Cummins has signed a deal that keeps him outside of the 18-man squad, although he is free to play if he becomes available.

That’s going to be unlikely, with Cummins confirming two weeks ago at the SCG that he would skip this year’s competition, with the 30-year-old already eyeing off the Indian Premier League next year.

Australia’s three-Test series against Pakistan finishes on January 7, with the first match against the West Indies starting 10 days later.

The Thunder plays matches on January 8, 12, 14 and 17 to finish the regular season, with the Sydney derby on January 12 the only realistic one he could feature in.

Pat Cummins has signed with the Sydney Thunder (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

Fellow international stars David Warner and Steve Smith are also in the mix to play that game at the SCG, although they will need to be monitored given how hectic the past 12 months have been for Australia’s best players.

“I’m a western Sydney guy at heart, so I’m really glad I can be a part of the team this summer,” Cummins said.

“International duties dictate I can’t be around as much as I’d like, but I’m keen to have a voice and back the guys all the way.”

Cummins was a regular for the Thunder before he became an international star, and the club has confirmed he will feature prominently in their off-field campaigns even if he doesn’t get the chance to play.

“We’re incredibly lucky to have Pat on-board. He’s a true great of the game and brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience,” Sydney Thunder head Andrew Gilchrist said.

“He has had a terrific impact on the team every year he’s been involved and I’m sure it’ll be the same even from a far this time around.”

Originally published as ‘I’m a western Sydney guy at heart’: Pat Cummins joins BBL team, but it comes with a catch