Kumar Sangakkara signs two-year deal with Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL
Sri Lankan stalwart Kumar Sangakkara has signed for Big Bash League (BBL) franchise Hobart Hurricanes for the 5th season of the Australian T20 tournament. Sangakkara, who will no longer play limited-overs cricket for Sri Lanka, has put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the Hurricanes, who play their home matches at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart, a ground where the 37-year-old has tasted a fair amount of success over the years.
"I have always loved Hobart when visiting with the Sri Lankan team, the people are friendly, the scenery is beautiful and I am looking forward to spending more time there and getting to see more of it," Sangakkara said.
"In speaking with Wrighty, it sounds like we are putting together a really exciting list for this year and I can't wait to get into the season," he added.
Guys it's a great privilege to sign for the @HurricanesBBL. Looking forward to playing in a fantastic tournament and for a great side.
— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) May 6, 2015
The former Sri Lankan captain, who is currently playing county cricket in England for Surrey, had a tremendous World Cup campaign and will be looking to continue his rich vein of form in the coming months. During the quadrennial event in Australia and New Zealand, he scored 541 runs from 7 matches at an astounding average of 108.20, becoming the first ever batsman to score 4 consecutive hundreds in ODI cricket in the process.
Unsurprisingly, then, Hurricanes coach Damien Wright proclaimed that Sangakkara’s signing is not just a boost for their franchise but for the tournament as a whole.
"Kumar is not only an extremely talented batsman but also a leader which is also fantastic," Wright said.
Hurricanes haven’t yet won the BBL, but they have a great chance of correcting that this coming season with big-hitting West Indian all-rounder Darren Sammy being the franchise’s other overseas recruit.