Veteran Sydney Sixers seamer Jackson Bird is set to line up for a ninth season with the club, putting pen to paper ahead of KFC BBL|14.
Bird lands for KFC BBL|14
One of the league’s most experienced campaigners, Bird is a two-time Big Bash champion, securing back-to-back title wins with the club in BBL|09 and BBL|10.
The evergreen quick joins a slew of re-signings across the off-season, joining fellow ‘heart and soul’ Sixers, Steve Smith, Daniel Hughes and James Vince (retained via the BBL Draft), with the club continuing to maintain a tight-knit, core group, under the guidance of long-time head coach, Greg Shipperd.
The side remains near-unchanged from last summer, with the exception of only retired spinner, Stephen O’Keefe, and the additions of overseas draftees, Akeal Hosein and Jafer Chohan.
Tickets for the KFC BBL|14 season are on sale NOW!
Tickets are available via Ticketek
Snaring 78 wickets across his 84 appearances in the Big Bash to date, Bird continues to be a crucial bowling option in Greg Shipperd’s side.
Beginning his Big Bash career with the Melbourne Stars in the league’s inaugural season, Bird made the move home to New South Wales ahead of BBL|05, spending the next three seasons with the Sixers.
After a brief return to the Stars in BBL|08, the paceman relocated back to Sydney permanently, rejoining the Sixers the following summer and remaining with the club since.
Born and raised on Sydney’s northern beaches, the 37-year-old has cemented himself as one of the Sheffield Shield’s all-time great bowlers, collecting over 370 Shield wickets in his time with Tasmania and more recently, NSW.
Speaking about retaining the services of the veteran, Sixers General Manager, Rachael Haynes said:
“Jackson is a much-loved member of our squad. Now coming into his ninth season with the club, he’s a Sydney Sixer through and through.
“We’re really pleased with the shape of our bowling group and Jackson provides a terrific option for us depending on the needs of the side, which gives us great flexibility throughout the season.
“He’s been such an important role player for us over the last few years and we’re really pleased to have him on-board for the summer ahead.
“We’re very lucky to have an incredibly close-knit playing group, and Jackson, his wife Scarlett, and boys, Max, George and Alexander, are a special part of that group.”
The announcement of Bird’s signing leaves two primary domestic list spots available for the upcoming men’s season.
The Sixers will begin their KFC BBL|14 campaign on Monday December 16, hosting the Melbourne Renegades at the SCG.
Sydney Sixers KFC BBL|14 Squad
Coach: Greg Shipperd
BBL|14 squad to date: Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Jafer Chohan, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques, Akeal Hosein, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Todd Murphy, Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe, Jordan Silk, Steve Smith, James Vince.