Test nice Steve Smith is to play for Washington Freedom within the second season of Major League Cricket because the Australian affect within the American T20 competitors gathers tempo.
The 34-year-old Smith will hyperlink up with one other batting nice, coach Ricky Ponting, within the capital-based franchise after the T20 World Cup within the US, the place he nonetheless hopes to symbolize Australia once more.
It’s a signing which was extensively anticipated as Smith was named model ambassador to Washington Freedom final yr, whereas his state workforce, NSW, have a high-performance partnership with the membership.
In a video put up on X on Thursday, Smith stated: “I’m super excited about joining the Washington Freedom … I can’t wait to meet all of my new teammates and play in front of some incredible crowds in America.
“I’m additionally actually trying ahead to working with Ricky Ponting once more and his wonderful workers. Can’t anticipate the season. Come on the Freedom!”
In February when he was named Washington coach, Ponting had made it clear he hoped to woo top Australian names into the US adventure, noting: “With the relationships I’ve had with a few of these guys, hopefully these relationships and the fitting sum of money is sufficient to deliver them to the Freedom.
“There’s huge potential, huge growth possibilities in the US, even with the IPL ownership model the way it is at the moment, it’s got potential to become huge and I want to be a part of that journey along the way.”
Washington completed third within the inaugural season of the six-team match final yr, with the follow-up version starting on July 4 after the conclusion to the World Cup within the US and Caribbean.
Smith has solely performed 4 T20 internationals for the reason that begin of 2023, and wasn’t needed within the Indian Premier League public sale in December, so he is been in need of short-format motion.
Smith, who owns an residence in New York, has talked of the prospect of taking part in within the US as “cool”.
Talking of his prospects of creating the World Cup squad, he instructed AAP lately: “I think they’re pretty settled up top – to be honest – with [Travis] Head, [David] Warner and [Mitchell] Marsh in the top three.
“I’m not likely positive what [selectors] need to do. I’m not likely too fussed both method. If I’m there, I’m there; if I’m not, I’m not.”
But his signing caps an increasingly strong-looking Australian involvement in the tournament.
Adam Zampa and Spencer Johnson can be on the Los Angeles Knight Riders, whereas Tim David will play for MI New York, the Mumbai Indians’-owned workforce, with extra Australian stars nonetheless anticipated to be snapped up.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
