Carey, Smith, Khawaja among Ashes stars rejoining BBL-15

Cricket Australia has confirmed that several members of its Ashes-winning Test squad will return to action in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) 15, with a wave of international stars set to rejoin their franchises from Saturday.

A number of leading Australian players have made themselves available for selection from January 10.

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Alex Carey is set to turn out for the Adelaide Strikers, while Brendan Doggett will bolster the Melbourne Renegades. Josh Inglis is due to link up with the Perth Scorchers, as Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne return to the Brisbane Heat.

The Sydney Sixers will welcome back Todd Murphy and Steve Smith, while Jake Weatherald and Beau Webster are set to feature for the Hobart Hurricanes.

Further reinforcements will follow later in the month, with Michael Neser expected to rejoin the Brisbane Heat from January 14 and Mitchell Starc scheduled to return to the Sydney Sixers on January 16.

However, not all Ashes participants will be available for the remainder of the BBL season. Scott Boland and Travis Head will sit out the rest of BBL 15 to prioritise recovery after featuring in all five Tests of the demanding Ashes series. Cameron Green also remains unavailable as he continues his rehabilitation following back surgery.

Boland shouldered a particularly heavy workload during the series, sending down 159.5 overs, while Head emerged as Australia’s leading run-scorer in the Ashes.

Cricket Australia stated that all players involved in the Test series will follow tailored recovery and preparation programmes, balancing rest with readiness for upcoming international assignments, including the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup later this year. Where possible, CA aims to ensure Ashes players feature in the BBL across the coming weeks.

“The BBL 15 season has delivered outstanding cricket and incredible fan experiences, watched by record crowds and broadcast audiences so far,” said Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia’s Executive General Manager, Big Bash Leagues.

“We are delighted to have a number of Australian Test players entering the competition from tomorrow night, following their Ashes series victory, and thank them for their commitment to the BBL.”

Cricket Australia’s General Manager of National Teams, Ben Oliver, echoed those sentiments, praising the squad’s efforts across a gruelling summer.

“We are immensely proud of the Australian men’s Test team and their outstanding achievement in winning the Ashes. A five-Test Ashes series is intense. The players and staff deserve great credit for their preparation and management, which has enabled sustained performance through a demanding international schedule.

“We have worked with each player on individual plans to best support recovery from the Ashes and preparation for upcoming international commitments, including the ICC T20 World Cup. Wherever possible, this includes players representing their clubs in the ongoing BBL 15 season over the coming fortnight,” Oliver added.