The Australia opener, who has snubbed the ILT20 in the UAE to play in the BBL for the first time in nine years, is serving a lifetime leadership ban for his part in the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal
David Warner will return to the Big Bash League for the first time in nine years after signing a contract with Sydney Thunder.
The Australia opener has only played three BBL matches, his last coming in December 2013.
It had been reported that the left-hander was intending to play in the new ILT20 league in the United Arab Emirates which is scheduled for January 2023.
But instead, he will be available for five Thunder regular-season matches, following the South Africa Test series, and the playoffs should they progress.
The news is a major boost to Cricket Australia, who have been striving to ensure more international stars are available for the competition.
Earlier this week, both Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne signed deals with Adelaide Strikers and Brisbane Heat.
David Warner: BBL stats
Matches: 3
Runs: 152
Top-score: 102*
Average: 76
Strike rate: 180.95
"I care deeply about the game, and I am conscious that the conditions that I enjoy as a professional cricketer have largely come from other senior players who have come before me," he said.
"That is how the game is structured and I understand that my contribution to the future of the BBL will hopefully benefit the next generation of players long after I am retired."
With Usman Khawaja having swapped Thunder for Heat, the BBL|05 winners are looking for a new captain for the 2023/23 campaign.
Warner was banned from holding any captaincy position as part of the punishment for his involvement in the Cape Town ball-tampering affair in 2018.
The 35-year-old is seeking talks with CA to have the reprimand overturned to allow him to lead Thunder this term.
"That hasn't really been brought to the table," Warner told a press conference.
Warner was banned from holding captaincy positions indefinitely in 2018 (GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP via Getty Images)
"As I've said plenty of times off the record, it's upon the board to reach out to me and open their doors. Then I can sit down and have an honest conversation with them.
"The board has changed since back in 2018 and when all those sanctions were dealt. It would be great to have a conversation with them and see where we are at."
"I've got the experience, I'm a leader in the side anyway without having a title.
"That's what I'm about, giving back, so if they [younger players] can pick my brains in any way, my phone is always there, they have my number, and they can see me when I'm at the practice facilities."
Australia's captain at Newlands Steve Smith was prohibited from occupying leadership positions for two years as part of the raft of punishments.
He returned to lead the team during the second Ashes Test in Adelaide last summer when skipper Pat Cummins was ruled out after being a Covid-19 close contact.
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