Last season's leading run scorer Alex Hales has linked back up with his Sydney Thunder teammates in Canberra after flying to the capital from Perth earlier this week.
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The star Englishman has returned to the Thunder after blasting a franchise record 576 runs last summer, which helped propel the side to within one game of the Big Bash decider.
He's expected to resume his flourishing opening partnership with Usman Khawaja in Saturday night's clash with the Melbourne Stars at Manuka Oval, one of five matches the Thunder will play in Canberra this month.
Hales flew into Perth from Karachi in November and spent two weeks in mandatory quarantine before heading to Canberra. He had been playing in the Pakistan Super League for the Karachi Kings.
"He's keen to get a bat in his hand after being stuck in a hotel in Perth," Thunder captain Callum Ferguson said.
"He brought a lot of energy to the group [last season] and you could tell that he was really keen to put in a good year.
"He probably had a bit of a point to prove and I'd say he probably still feels that way a bit trying to get back into that England T20 side.
"For us he was fantastic, he probably didn't get the start that he was looking for last season but that didn't affect him around the group. He was great for our young players, he was so giving to them with his experiences and talking through different scenarios with them.
"We've made a real emphasis on making sure that we bring the right type of character in and around our team and he was absolutely brilliant. He was repaid with some really productive innings for us and he had a huge season in the end.
"He was a big part of why we ended up so close to a final."
Only English wicketkeeper Sam Billings, and Australian T20 quick Daniel Sams are yet to convene in Canberra for the start of the Thunder's Big Bash campaign.
Billings, not due in the country until later this month, will miss at least the first three BBL fixtures, while Sams will head to the capital later this week after Tuesday night's final T20 international against India.
They'll join new recruits Ben Cutting and Adam Milne to round out head coach Shane Bond's squad which Ferguson believes is the strongest he's seen since joining the Thunder three years ago.
"We feel like we've improved on the squad we had last year again and that's really exciting for us," Ferguson said.
"With another year under the young players' belt and being able to bring in the calibre of players that we have - Billings, Ben Cutting who's been one of the most damaging finishers in the game and offers a bit with the ball too - we've certainly got some high power in the group.
"Adam Milne coming on board is a fantastic addition. We all know how much energy he can bring with the ball which we think is really important in Big Bash cricket to have guys who have got the extra pace."
MORE CANBERRA CRICKET
Manuka will host six BBL matches this month, starting with the Stars' season opener against the Brisbane Heat on Friday.
Three new rule changes will be introduced to this year's competition, including the possibility of a super-sub which has been branded the 'X-Factor'.
That will allow teams to inject a fresh player into the contest at the 10-over mark of the first innings, so long as the competitor being replaced hasn't batted, or has bowled no more than one over.
"We are so well balanced - I feel that we're really well positioned to take advantage of that rule," Ferguson said.
Big Bash at Manuka Oval
Dec 11: Melbourne Stars v Brisbane Heat
Dec 12: Melbourne Stars v Sydney Thunder
Dec 14: Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat
Dec 22: Sydney Thunder v Perth Scorchers
Dec 26: Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Renegades
Dec 29: Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Stars
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
