Hampshire skipper James Vince has re-signed with Sydney Sixers for the upcoming season of the Big Bash League in Australia.

“I’m delighted to be returning to the Sixers for BBL 9,” Vince said, in a statement on the team website. “My family and I were made to feel very welcome at the Sixers and had a wonderful time living in Sydney.”

Vince had been added to the Sixers’ squad midway through last season, as a replacement for Joe Denly, who had to leave the tournament owing to international commitments. In eight games, Vince struck 269 runs at 44.83 in Sixers’ semi-final finish.

“Having lost out in the semis in BBL 8, I’m hoping we can go all the way this time around,” he said. “There is a huge amount of talent in the squad and some great people at the club. I’m looking forward to contributing to what is hopefully going to be a great BBL for the Sixers.

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— James Vince (@vincey14) September 17, 2019

“The SCG is an amazing stadium to play at and we had some great support there last season. I look forward to more of the same this season.”

Part of the squad that won the 2019 World Cup, Vince’s re-signing came the day he hit his first red-ball century of the season, against Somerset. In this year’s T20 Blast, Vince was Hampshire’s top run-getter, garnering 407 runs at a strike-rate of 132.14.

Sixers’ head coach Greg Shipperd welcomed Vince’s return to the franchise. “We are delighted to have secured James Vince as our second international player for the coming season, BBL 9.

“As captain of his county Hampshire, and an England player, he brings great knowledge, leadership and calm to our group. He is one of the sweetest strikers of the ball in the world, with a rare purity of strokes on both sides of the wicket making him tough to contain.”