Salt’s had a Blast – now he’s set for Big Bash

Phil Salt’s T20 skills have earned him a Big Bash chance Cricket

Phil Salt will look to continue his Twenty20 education this winter after becoming the third Sussex man to link up with head coach Jason Gillespie’s Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League.

The Strikers have added the Sussex opener to their roster and, having played club cricket with Adelaide University in the 2017-18 winter, and alongside Alex Carey and Rashid Khan for the Sharks in the Vitality Blast this year, he should ease into his new environment comfortably enough.

It has been a whirlwind 12 months for the 23-year-old, whose 406 runs placed him tenth on the list of leading run scorers in the Blast.

His breakthrough performances in the 2018 Blast, when he scored 355 runs, earned him winter slots in the Pakistan Super League with Lahore Qalanders and Islamabad United.

He was called into England’s squad for the one-off T20 international against Pakistan in May, and though he did not make the team the time spent around the set-up was valuable experience.

With Eoin Morgan taking a few uncapped players to New Zealand later this year for the five-match T20 series, although Salt is not in the squad this time but there is every chance Salt could get his first taste of international cricket soon.

But while he waits, then playing in the Big Bash will offer him more invaluable experience.