Tom Curran BBL replacement: Who has replaced Curran at Sydney Sixers for Big Bash League 2020-21?

Tom Curran BBL replacement: The English all-rounder had opted out of BBL 2020-21 due to fatigue of staying in biosecurity bubbles.

Following the steps of England batsman Tom Banton, all-rounder Tom Curran had become the second player to decide to give the imminent 10th season of the Big Bash League a miss citing concerns around staying inside another biosecurity bubble.

With the duo being in South Africa for a white-ball tour, it was originally scheduled to accompany four other Englishmen to Australia for BBL 2020-21. However, Banton and Curran decided to travel back to England to remain with their respective families.

Curran, who had joined Sixers in 2018, has had a couple of impressive seasons in the BBL picking 42 wickets in 28 T20s at an average of 19.62, an economy rate of 8.32 and a strike rate of 14.14.

Tom Curran BBL replacement

Defending champions Sydney Sixers have now named England pacer Jake Ball as Curran’s replacement for BBL 10. The development was made public on a day when Sixers will take the field against Hobart Hurricanes in the season opener at the Bellerive Oval.

Having played the last of his 24 international matches across formats in 2018, Ball was among the three reserves (alongside Banton and Tom Helm) for T20Is and ODIs. The 29-year old player will accompany the likes of Jason Roy, Sam Billings, Liam Livingstone and Lewis Gregory to Australia as he will be available after Christmas after undergoing a mandatory self-isolation period.

In 10 T20 Blast matches for champions Nottingham this season, Ball was the highest wicket-taker on the back of picking 19 wickets at an average of 13.63, an economy rate of 7.58 and a strike rate of 10.7.

Veteran Australia all-rounder Daniel Christian, who led Nottingham to a title victory this season, will be playing his maiden season for Sixers this year. In what will be the 37-year old player’s fourth BBL team, he has played a significant role in roping in Ball for his maiden BBL stint.

“Jake [Ball] has been a mainstay of our Nottinghamshire attack in my time there over the last six seasons, leading us to the domestic T20 titles in 2017, and again this year in 2020. I didn’t hesitate putting Jake’s name forward upon hearing that Tom Curran was unfortunately unavailable.

“As the leading wicket taker in the T20 Blast this year, I’ve got no doubt that he’ll help us win games here at the Sixers. I can’t wait to pull on the magenta with him,” Christian was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.