The Big Bash League (BBL) franchise Sydney Thunder have suffered a huge blow ahead of the commencement of BBL 2023 as David Willey has pulled out of the tournament.
The bowling all-rounder was a part of England’s T20 World Cup winning squad which recently concluded down under as Three Lions beat Pakistan to clinch the title.
However, the player did not participate in any of the matches of the showpiece tournament. Willey was signed by Sydney Thunder as their ‘platinum pick’ ahead of the new season.
“David and his management have been tremendous to deal with,” Andrew Gilchrist, head of Sydney Thunder, said.
“Sydney Thunder regrets David won’t be playing for us this season, but we wish him and his family all the very best for the future.”
Liam Livingstone to Miss Four Matches For Melbourne Renegades
The left-arm swing bowler became the second platinum pick to withdraw from the upcoming edition of the Big Bash League.
Earlier the hard-hitting all-rounder, Liam Livingstone, who was the first draft pick for the Melbourne Renegades pulled out of the first four matches of the tournament after he received a call-up to England’s Test squad for Pakistan.
Livingstone is expected to join the Melbourne Renegades squad from their fifth match onwards after concluding the tour of Pakistan on December 17.
For the meantime, Melbourne Renegades announced the Caribbean all-rounder Andre Russell as Livingstone’s replacement for their opening four fixtures of the season.
