Phil Salt joins Adelaide Strikers for Big Bash as Sussex presence increases

Salt will link up in Adelaide with Jason Gillespie, who coaches both Sussex and Strikers. He will become the third player in the squad to have represented both clubs

Sussex batsman Phil Salt has joined Adelaide Strikers ahead of the Big Bash, which begins in December.

The big-hitting 23-year-old, who was called into England's squad for a T20I against Pakistan, has forged a reputation as a fine white-ball cricketer, becoming a key part of Sussex’s last two T20 Blast campaigns.

In the 2018 competition, he made 355 runs at a strike-rate of 172, while he struck a rapid 72 in defeat as the south coast side’s run in the 2019 competition was ended by Worcestershire at the quarter-final stage.

Salt will link up in Adelaide with Jason Gillespie, who coaches both Sussex and Strikers. He will become the third player in the squad to have represented both clubs; Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan and Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey have both enjoyed successful stints at Sussex.

“We are incredibly excited to have signed Phil who has showed real signs of promise and has performed well for the Sharks in the Blast,” Gillespie said.

“He’s beyond excited to get started, obviously we have (Alex) Carey over here in England and Phil has been chatting to him non-stop about how it’s going to work, when he can come out to Adelaide and meet everyone and get stuck in.”

Salt previously spent time in 2018 playing for Adelaide University, while working with the Darren Lehmann Academy.

“I love working with Dizz (Gillespie), Rash and Alex, it’s so key when you’re trying to build a great environment to have guys who you know are going to put 100% in at all times and give everything they’ve got to the cause.

“I’ve worked really well with Dizz over the course of my career so far and hope that we can be even more successful here at the Strikers.

“The squad that we have is more than good enough to challenge for the title; we’ve got some great players who have plenty about them, not only cricket-wise but in character also and that’s so important in a team.”

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