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Mitchell Starc is set to play his first BBL match in 11 seasons in January after signing with the Sydney Sixers but remains adamant that any changes to the competition should not come at the expense of Test cricket.Starc played six matches in the first season of the BBL back in 2011-12, the same summer he made his Test debut for Australia, including taking two wickets in the final which Sixers won. He played four more games over the next three editions but has not featured since, having long prioritised the international summer with Australia.Related

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But after retiring from T20I cricket this year, Starc will not have any commitments with Australia following the completion of the fifth Ashes Test on January 8. It presents an opportunity for Starc to play upwards of three BBL matches on January 11, 16 and 18, depending on how he has recovered physically after a gruelling five-Test series, as well as the BBL finals if Sixers qualify.”I’ve got no cricket scheduled between the fifth Test and the IPL at this stage,” Starc said.”An opportunity to play some BBL cricket, I’ve obviously been a part of the small part of the Sixers throughout the 15 seasons, so it’s nice to return to potentially a playing role. Obviously, we’ve got the five Test matches to focus on, first and foremost. But post that, it’s obviously my intention to be available to play some part if called upon.”While Starc was excited about the possibility of returning to play with the Sixers, he was adamant that Australia’s Test summer should remain untouched regarding any future scheduling decisions to do with the BBL which are likely to come amid the privatisation discussions.”I’m fine with BBL windows,” Starc said. “The only view I have on it is the Test cricket schedule is not to be touched. Test cricket is the pinnacle. I don’t think Test cricket should make way for T20 cricket at all. Whether it’s the BBL, the IPL, anything, the Test summer is the Test summer. I would hate to see that change for domestic cricket.”So that is not a snipe at anyone. That’s just my opinion of Test cricket and where it sits on my priority list. Whether you move the Big Bash into a smaller window and play back-to-back, it’s T20 cricket. It’s not as physically demanding as Test cricket. I know they’ve shortened the schedule already. I think that’s been a positive impact.”Starc’s signing is another significant boost for the BBL in what is expected to be a massive season for the competition. Former India spinner R Aswhin is set to play the whole season for Sydney Thunder and there is a potential that Ashwin, Starc, David Warner, Steven Smith and Pakistan batter Babar Azam (provided the PCB’s NOC suspension is overturned) could all play in the same match on January 16 between Sixers and Thunder at the SCG.The Sydney Sixers with the inaugural BBL trophy•Getty Images

Head of the BBL Alistair Dobson was thrilled that Starc had made himself available for the BBL. “To have Mitch signing off for Sixers it just shows that it’s still a comp that everyone wants to play in,” he said.Despite Starc’s retirement from T20I cricket, his availability in the BBL may be short-lived because Australia have Test commitments in January of 2027 in India, with Starc on record saying he wants to push his international career through until the 2027 ODI World Cup.The BBL is still yet to create a clear window for Australia Test players to be available, which has been a key talking point among potential investors interested in being involved in the league as Cricket Australia continues to investigate the possibility of allowing private investment into the competition.”Global scheduling is a really challenging topic,” Dobson said. “It’s only getting more complicated. And the ability, not only for the BBL to grow, but the Australian team to continue to play great cricket around the world, is really important. How you combine all those things is part art, part science and a little bit of luck probably along the way. So the future FTP is a little way away, but as we look at the future of the BBL it will be part of those discussions.”

The BCCI has filed an official complaint against Pakistan cricketers Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan with the ICC for their on-field gestures during the Asia Cup Super Fours game in Dubai last Sunday. It is reliably learnt that the BCCI filed the complaint via an email on Wednesday, and the ICC is in receipt of it.In case Farhan and Rauf deny the allegations in writing, an ICC hearing could take place to address the matter for the hearing. They might have to appear before match referee Richie Richardson – the second match referee at the tournament, Andy Pycroft being the other.Farhan’s celebration after getting to his half-century and Rauf gesturing towards a section of fans while fielding at the boundary – the incidents the BCCI has complained about – have been all over social media since that day.Related

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“Let me first say, the amount of pressure that’s been heaped on the players because of the situation, it’s very difficult to control your behaviour,” India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said on Tuesday when asked about Haris’ provocative gestures.”I did see some of the things Haris did and that’s not our concern. Like I said earlier, we’re really proud of how the guys carried themselves. They fought fire with their bats on the field. Other teams may have had issues with some of the things we’ve done. But from our side, we’re proud of how the guys have carried themselves.”The PCB has also lodged an official complaint with the ICC against Suryakumar Yadav for the India captain dedicating the win over Pakistan in the first round, on September 14, to “the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack” in April this year, which led to cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan.”Want to dedicate the win to all our armed forces who showed a lot of bravery. Hope they continue to inspire us all, and we give them more reasons on the ground whenever we get an opportunity to make them smile,” Suryakumar said in the presentation ceremony after that match, which made headlines for events before and after the match – the captains didn’t shake hands at the toss, the players didn’t greet each other after the match, and “handshakegate” has continued to be a subject of talk and debate at the Asia Cup ever since.The PCB has alleged that Suryakumar’s comments were “political”.Sunday’s Super Fours match, the second meeting between the two teams during the Asia Cup, witnessed several heated moments including exchanges between Pakistan quicks Shaheen Shah Afridi and Rauf and India openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill.

Hampshire 146 for 2 (Middleton 79, Weatherley 62) vs Worcestershire Worcestershire struck two late blows after Hampshire’s batters had laid a solid foundation on a truncated first day of their Rothesay County Championship match at Visit Worcestershire New Road.Hampshire, in search of their first championship victory since mid-May, closed on 146 for two having reached 127 without loss before losing openers Fletcha Middleton (79, 101 balls) and Joe Weatherley (62, 130) in a late burst of play in poor light.They were blows badly needed by Worcestershire, bottom of Division One and desperate for a win to sustain their slender hopes of survival.After a wet outfield prevented play before lunch, the home side chose to bowl in conditions still damp from morning rain, but the assistance for the seamers they hoped for did not materialise. Pakistan pace spearhead Khurram Shahzad was expensive as Weatherley and Middleton put 50 on the board by the 14th over.The Winchester-born openers, perhaps inspired by the adjacence of a cathedral, were little troubled by a Worcestershire attack bruised by last week’s heartbreaking defeat to neighbours Warwickshire. Having dominated the first half of the match at Edgbaston, the Pears suffered a devastating defeat as Warwickshire chased down 393 on the last day.Back on home turf, the Worcestershire attack, with Matthew Waite returning from paternity leave in place of Sussex loanee Bertie Foreman, again toiled. Middleton hurried to his half-century from 51 balls and Weatherley followed to his from 103.The openers were looking forward to a productive evening session only for the rain to return during the tea interval and prevent play until a late resumption at 6pm. Hampshire’s openers ventured back out with little to gain and everything to lose – and the home side took advantage of the murky, moist conditions. Middleton edged Tom Taylor to wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick, who took a superb catch in front of first slip, and Weatherly edged Ben Allison to Ethan Brookes at second slip.The wickets were an unwelcome postscript to a hitherto excellent day for Hampshire but they have still set down a solid platform from which to push for a victory that would lift them away from the relegation zone – and pretty much sentence Worcestershire to end the season in it.