Alex Ross, known as "The Sweepologist" for his adeptness at playing the sweep shot—a skill honed from his early days in hockey in New Zealand—has come full circle in his Big Bash League (BBL) career. The 32-year-old veteran batter has signed a two-year contract to rejoin the Adelaide Strikers, the team where his T20 journey started in 2014.
Ross' BBL career, which has spanned nearly a decade, began with the Strikers in BBL|04. After his initial stint, he played for the Brisbane Heat from 2016 to 2018 and then for the Sydney Thunder from 2019 to 2023. During this time, he also participated in various T20 franchise leagues around the world, including in the West Indies, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Additionally, Ross has represented South Australia in 18 Marsh Sheffield Shield matches and nearly 50 One-Day Cup games.
Returning to the Strikers, Ross expressed his enthusiasm, stating that it's thrilling to come back to where it all began. He looks forward to playing regularly at the Adelaide Oval and reconnecting with the team's loyal fans. Reflecting on the Strikers' recent success, he noted that the team's roster is strong, following their impressive finals run last season, and he is eager to see what they can achieve in BBL|14.
During his first tenure with the Strikers, Ross played 18 matches over two seasons, amassing 247 runs at an impressive strike rate of 143.6. Throughout his BBL career, Ross has accumulated 1920 runs, including nine half-centuries, with a top score of 77 not out for the Sydney Thunder against the Melbourne Stars in BBL|11, maintaining a career strike rate of 128.09 as a middle-order batsman.
The Adelaide Strikers are currently in a period of transition, as they have yet to appoint a new head coach for the upcoming season following Jason Gillespie's move to coach Pakistan's men's Test team. In recent developments, the Strikers have bolstered their squad by signing fast bowler Jordan Buckingham, while fellow pacer Wes Agar has been traded to the Sydney Thunder.
Shaun Williams, the Strikers' interim general manager, expressed his excitement about Ross's return. He highlighted Ross’s consistent performance throughout his BBL career and noted that his presence will add much-needed stability to the team's middle order. Williams welcomed Ross back to the Strikers' fold, looking forward to seeing him in action over the next two seasons.
Adelaide Strikers BBL|14 Squad (so far):
James Bazley, Jordan Buckingham, Cameron Boyce, Brendan Doggett, Alex Ross, D'Arcy Short, Matt Short, Jake Weatherald.