Astonishing new deal for age-defying Peter Siddle as David Warner also joins BBL's 40-plus club
Former Test stars David Warner and Peter Siddle have signed one-year Big Bash League contract extensions, prolonging their careers after brilliant seasons with the Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Stars respectively.
Warner will be 40 and Siddle 42 come the start of the 2026-27 BBL season.
Former Test all-rounder Hilton Cartwright and Stars gloveman Sam Harper have also extended, signing two-year contracts.
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Peter Siddle of the Melbourne Stars. Getty
Warner finished the regular season as the competition's top runs-scorer, having plundered 433 runs at 86.60, including two centuries and a pair of half-centuries.
Siddle turned back the clock at the barber and on the field, picking up 16 wickets at an average of 17 with his youthful peroxide blonde look.
To make his revival even more staggering, Siddle initially announced his retirement from all forms of the game in 2024.
The right-arm quick hit as fast as 145.8 kilometres per hour this summer.
Warner and Siddle were both named in the BBL team of the tournament, alongside other stars such as Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Tom Curran and Harris Rauf.
"I'm really excited to commit to another season with Thunder," said Warner, the Thunder captain.
Sydney Thunder skipper David Warner. Getty
"It was certainly a challenging year for us. We are a much better team than what we put on the field this season and were unable to put a consistent game together.
"But the support from our fans — turning up in numbers every game — played a massive role in my decision to stay.
"I feel I've got plenty more to give to this team and to this game. I felt pretty comfortable with my performance and was proud to give the team a fighting chance."
The Sydney Sixers and Hobart Hurricanes will face off at the SCG on Friday night for a spot in the final, as a date with the Perth Scorchers in the west looms.
