Perth Scorchers have locked away Aaron Hardie on a three-year deal, just days before he would have become a free agent.
Hardie’s signature comes before Sunday’s player-signing deadline, with then given a 10-day period to snare uncontracted players from other teams.
The all-rounder captained the club for most of last season and has already played one-day and Twenty20 cricket for Australia.
He is the latest piece in the Scorchers’ puzzle, with captain Ashton Turner, quicks Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Matt Kelly and Mahli Beardman, wicket-keeper Josh Inglis and import Finn Allen among the other players locked away.
Hardie will play for the club for the next three Big Bash seasons.
Veteran bowling trio Ashton Agar, Andrew Tye and Jason Behrendorff are all out of contract at the end of this season, with Behrendorff and Agar both linked to moves to other clubs.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be able to sign on for the next three seasons with the Scorchers,” Hardie said.
“I have really enjoyed my time at the club so far and I’m so grateful for the opportunities the Scorchers have given me.
“Our playing group is incredibly close both on and off the field, we’ve built really strong relationships and a team culture which has enabled us to have a lot of success over the club’s history.
“It’s exciting to see a group of us — Jhye, AT, Finn, Lance, and Ingo — all signed up for a number of years and I think having a core group of senior players together for the next few seasons will hold us in really good stead.
“I am excited to see what the future holds for this group, and I’m confident that more success is just around the corner.”
Content Source: www.perthnow.com.au