The New Zealand opener, who has played 273 international white-ball matches, is the latest overseas addition following the arrival of England's Sophie Ecclestone
Suzie Bates has joined a star-studded Sydney Sixes squad ahead of the new Women's Big Bash season.
The New Zealand opening batter has previously represented Perth Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers.
She has twice reached the final but was on the wrong side of the result on both occasions.
Bates is a legend of New Zealand cricket, with 273 appearances and 8,576 runs in international white-ball cricket.
Last month, the 34-year-old became the first women to pass 3,500 T20I runs and has 13 centuries across the formats. Though she plays less of a role with the ball these days, Bates has 125 wickets in limited-overs cricket for her country.
Bates has played in two WBBL finals - but has fallen at the last hurdle on both occasions (Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Joining a squad captained by Ellyse Perry, coached by Charlotte Edwards and including Alyssa Healy, Bates is hopeful she can make it third time lucky in the WBBL.
"They've been one of the most successful club's in WBBL history but I think they'd be the first to admit that in recent times they haven't done as well as they'd like," she admitted.
"I can't wait to be part of a team that wants to make finals and wants to win Championships.
"It will be nice [to play alongside Healy and Perry] because I’m a bit sick of playing against them!
"Healy scored a lot of runs - and a few hundreds - against the Strikers in the past, so it will be nice to be down the other end and watch those two go about their business."
Bates won the women's Hundred with Oval Invincibles (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
During a sustained summer in England, Bates scooped Commonwealth Games bronze with New Zealand and then helped Oval Invincibles retain their women's Hundred crown, beating Edwards' Southern Brave in the final.
"Suzie is a great team person," the former England captain explained. "Any team is certainly stronger with her in it and we're very lucky at the Sixers to have her.
"She's an important signing for us as a group with what she brings on and off the field. In terms of 'onfield' we identified an opening batter as a position we needed going into WBBL|08 – and Suzie is world-leading in that position.
"Suzie also brings an enormous amount of experience of playing in the WBBL, and that will be so valuable to our group.
"She's in the form of her life, coming off winning The Hundred where she played a pivotal role as a leader and opening bat."
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.