Southern Smash: English wicketkeeper-batter James Bracey latest big-name player to sign up for marquee event

English wicketkeeper-batter James Bracey will add further international experience to this year’s Southern Smash.

Bracey is the latest big-name player to sign up for Albany’s marquee Twenty20 cricket tournament from December 28-30.

Sri Lankan great Tillakaratne Dilshan and former Big Bash League players Liam O’Connor and Jaron Morgan headlined a list of strong nominations earlier this month.

Smash organisers have now secured the huge signing of Bracey, who made his Test debut for England in 2021.

The 26-year-old has played two Test matches for his country and made nine first-class centuries.

He plays for Gloucestershire in the UK and is in Australia this season joining University in the WA Premier Cricket competition.

Bracey made 126 in his WA debut and will be a massive addition to the 2023 edition of regional WA’s premier T20 competition.

In addition, Scottish international Oliver Davidson will be part of the Smash for the second straight year.

Davidson was in Albany last summer, enjoying a terrific season with Collingwood Park.

The 19-year-old all-rounder was part of the Retravision Warriors in 2022 and will be hot property if the franchise doesn’t retain him.

Highly promising batter Corey Wasley has also recommitted to the Smash, after playing with the Camtrans Bulldogs last year.

Wasley is fresh from scoring 206 in the WA second XI game against South Australia.

The Rockingham-Mandurah teenager belted 11 sixes in his blistering innings, and his power hitting will again be on show at the Smash.

The Smash is a T20 event in which players from metropolitan, regional and country areas get to rub shoulders with former State and international stars each December.

Players nominate to play and are then either retained by their team or selected in a draft before the competition.

This year’s draft will be held at Inswing Sports Bar on November 13.

For players wanting to register, visit https://www.cognitoforms.com/SouthernSmashT20/SouthernSmash5Rego?fbclid=IwAR0fnfq90I9Ff6WJZK4fEQoQ1zvRbRU4dBm0_WGJ6TiDpbOousVcqp71wV8.