BBL11: Perth Scorchers’ three-time Big Bash League title winner Sam Whiteman heads east

Sydney Thunder have won the race for Perth Scorchers great Sam Whiteman’s signature. The three-time Big Bash League title winner had interest from four teams including Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars and Brisbane Heat. The West Australian understands the hard-hitting left-hander will be announced as a replacement player for Ashes squad member Usman Khawaja. Whiteman and current coach Adam Voges are the only Scorchers to play in all three of the team’s BBL wins in 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2016-17. His most memorable knock was in the third grand final win, hitting a gutsy 41 from 21 balls opening the batting with a shattered index finger against arch-rivals Sydney Sixers at the WACA Ground. But he appeared just twice in the past two summers with the signing of powerful imports Colin Munro, Liam Livingstone and Jason Roy and emergence of Josh Inglis not helping his cause. The 29-year-old was once touted as the Australian Test gloveman in waiting but was cruelled by finger injuries. With Inglis, Josh Philippe and Cam Bancroft ahead of him in the wicket-keeping pecking order, Whiteman has been forced to re-invent himself as a top-order batter. Whiteman was not offered a permanent spot in the Scorchers’ 18-player squad but was likely to be added as a replacement player for parts of the tournament. He heads into BBL11 in brilliant touch, scoring a career-best 179 not out in the Sheffield Shield against Tasmania in Hobart last week and following it up with 79 in the corresponding Marsh One-Day Cup match a few days later. Khawaja is unlikely to feature much this tournament because of Australian duties, whether he makes the final XI ahead of South Australian captain Travis Head for the first Test at the Gabba next week or sticks around as an additional batsman in the squad. With veteran run machine Callum Ferguson not offered another contract by the Thunder, there’s set to be plenty of opportunities at the top for Whiteman alongside English imports Alex Hales and Sam Billings.