ACT Meteors captain Angela Reakes signs with Sydney Sixers

It's no wonder considering a torn Achilles tendon kept her from playing in last summer's Big Bash League and WNCL campaigns.

Reakes is set to make her long-awaited return from injury in magenta, with the 29-year-old unveiled as Sydney's 13^th signing for the upcoming WBBL season on Wednesday.

But the surreal part of her cricket comeback? Seeing her name on a magenta graphic after almost 12 months on the sideline.

"It's so surreal because I haven't seen myself play cricket for 12 months. It's nice to remember that I used to play cricket," Reakes laughed.

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Reakes, a Sixers foundation player, returns to the two-time WBBL championship club after a short stint with the Melbourne Stars.

She played three seasons with Sydney as well as five WNCL campaigns with the NSW Breakers, labeling her return to North Sydney Oval as "coming home."

It will see her link up with the likes of international stars Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy, who she's known since playing junior cricket.

"One of the best feelings was hearing from all the [Sixers] girls who are still playing there," Reakes said.

"For them to say how excited they were for me to be back was just the nicest feeling ever. It's kind of like going home for me as well.

"I grew up playing for Cricket NSW and went through their system, so I always envisioned in the back end of my career being there. It was a no-brainer for me."

It comes just two months after the veteran all-rounder was named as the ACT Meteor's captain for the 2020-21 WNCL season.

Her cricket comeback could occur during the Big Bash despite already completing a full pre-season in Canberra, with the WNCL season's start delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Current border restrictions and quarantine measures will likely see the 50-over competition, which usually starts in September, pushed back to later in the summer.

The WBBL, meanwhile, had been scheduled to start in mid-October and the full season is expected to still take place, albeit in a condensed format.

Sydney will be looking for finals redemption after finishing fifth and missing out on play-offs for the first time last season.

"I'm keen to win. Being able to win some cricket games and be in the finals again would be a good experience," Reakes said.

"Just being among that pressure would be good."

The Sixers have a star-studded starting XI featuring four Australian limited-over players, as well as South African internationals Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk.

Reakes, who is considered one of the nation's best fielders, is confident she can elevate her game alongside them, adamant her best days can still be ahead.

"If you're in an environment like the Sixers, you will naturally lift because it's a winning culture. It's almost perfection, striving to be the best," Reakes said.

"The international roster they've got, that only challenges you in training. It's a great thing for me and my game. I'm keen to learn some more, first and foremost, and enjoy playing cricket."

The Sixers only have two spots left to fill in their 2020-21 season squad.

SYDNEY SIXERS ROSTER:

Erin Burns, Stella Campbell, Lauren Cheatle, Maddy Darke, Ash Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jodie Hicks, Emma Hughes, Marizanne Kapp, Ellyse Perry (c), Angela Reakes, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Dane van Niekerk