Smith, AB are ready to bash

STEVE Smith is expected to play his first Big Bash League game in six years on Thursday when the world’s best Test batsman goes head-to-head with AB de Villiers at the Gabba.

That clash could also pit the master against the apprentice with Smith’s sidekick, Marnus Labuschagne, likely to play for the Brisbane Heat.

Australia’s ODI squad will be released back to their BBL franchises on Wednesday, in time for Pete Handscomb, Adam Zampa (Stars) and Alex Carey (Strikers) to face off at the Adelaide Oval.

The only exception is Sixers bowler Josh Hazlewood, who will have to wait until Saturday’s game against the Melbourne Renegades at the SCG.

The consistent right-armer warmed up for the India tour with two BBL games as he recovered from a torn hamstring.

Hazlewood wasn’t considered for last year’s World Cup because he hadn’t played enough whiteball cricket but is desperate to change that with three World Cups

— two T20 and one ODI — in the next four years.

Australia’s 14-man ODI squad was due to depart India soon after last night’s series decider in Bengaluru, ensuring they are ready for Big Bash commitments.

David Warner, Patrick Cummins and Mitchell Starc did not sign BBL contracts for this season. The three-format stars will put their feet up until February’s white-ball tour of South Africa.

With no more international cricket until then, there should be full BBL availability as the competition heads towards this season’s expanded five-team finals series.

Smith captained the Sixers to the inaugural BBL championship and Sydney’s glamour club will be powered by Test superstars Smith, Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon in the finals.

“It’ll be great. I haven’t played in the Big Bash for a while now, so I was pretty keen to get back playing,” Smith said. “We haven’t really had a great opportunity over the last five or six years. But we saw a little window [now] and I enjoy the Sixers franchise and the culture around that group.”