Pat Cummins is set to return to the United States. The Australian fast bowler, who last played in the T20 World Cup in the United States and West Indies, will begin his career with the San Francisco Unicorns in the Major League Cricket tournament in the middle of the season.
Cummins has signed a four-year contract with the franchise. The 31-year-old has previously played only in the overseas T20 league, the IPL, and has not featured in Australia’s Big Bash League since the 2018-19 season due to international commitments.
The Unicorns have won just one of their three matches so far this year and will enjoy the power that Cummins can provide. He created history by scoring back-to-back hat-tricks in the T20 World Cup and before that, he led Sunrisers Hyderabad to the final in the IPL. He has played a total of 151 T20s, taking 172 wickets at an average of 26.66 and an economy rate of 8.11.
Cummins’ arrival coincides with the departure of Sherpain Rutherford. The hard-hitting West Indies all-rounder has not played a single game for the Unicorns so far and will miss the remainder of the MLC due to a family bereavement.
The Texas Super Kings will be coached by Otneal Bartman, replacing Gerald Coutts (injured), while the Seattle Seahawks will be coached by Lungi Ngidi, replacing Wayne Parnell (withdrawn).
South Africa fast bowler Battman has been ruled out of the ongoing T20 Blast in England due to a visa delay and a vacant schedule. He has taken 107 wickets in 76 T20s and is known for his variation and death bowling ability.
Ngidi suffered a back injury in the SA20 earlier this year and missed the subsequent IPL, but has since recovered and is part of the South African squad for the T20 World Cup alongside Baartman.
