Fresh off Southern Smash century Wanneroo star Chris Sabburg called up to BBL for Perth Scorchers

A week on from making a century in Albany’s third edition of the Southern Smash, star Wanneroo batter Chris Sabburg has been called up to the Perth Scorchers as a replacement player. Sabburg was announced this week as a replacement player for Australian under-19 World Cup captain Cooper Connolly and was part of the Scorchers 14-man squad for their clash with the Sydney Sixers on Tuesday. He was named as an X-factor player in the game. After playing nine games for the Brisbane Heat in two Big Bash League seasons, including a championship win in 2012-13, Sabburg has been a dominant force in the WA Premier Cricket scene. The left-handed Wanneroo skipper is the fourth-leading run-scorer in the WA Premier Cricket T20 competition this season with 167 runs at 55.7, including an unbeaten 57-ball century. Last week the 32-year-old was one of the marquee players in regional WA’s premier T20 tournament for the Albany Finance Fury. In the Smash he made six, then was out lbw for a duck and finished with an unbeaten 100 from 53 balls while also taking two wickets with his off-spin. Smash organising committee member Ryan Kinnear said to have Sabburg re-join the BBL after being down in Albany was fantastic. “One of the things that brought him down here was he needed to keep his skills up over the (Christmas) period,” Kinnear said. “He missed out in first couple of games but his hundred was pretty good to watch from all accounts. “It just shows the calibre of player that we can and are attracting and for the guys involved in the Smash its pretty exciting to be a part of.” Kinnear said the organisers were rapt with the support the Smash received again. “It was obviously down on last year but we can’t always attract a big name player like a Brad Hogg or Travis Birt,” he said. “The event ran smoothly, a lot of people went away happy and enjoyed a couple of good days cricket. “For us it probably starts this week preparation for Southern Smash 4. “There is an appetite for guys down here to put on the event again and attract high quality players like Chris alongside some of best players in country WA.”