Australian all-rounder Daniel Sams, the Sydney Thunder’s leading wicket-taker in Big Bash history, is at risk of missing the start of next summer’s BBL due to a knee injury.
The 31-year-old, who has represented Australia in ten T20Is since his international debut in 2020, sustained the injury while representing Essex in England’s T20 Blast last month, prematurely ending his campaign with the county side.
Sams was named MVP of last year’s T20 Blast after scoring 419 runs and taking 25 wickets in 17 matches for Sussex.
The left-armed seamer, replaced in the Essex squad by South African quick Eathan Bosch, has since returned home to Australia to undergo surgery.
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“It’s not ideal obviously,” Sams said.
“I can’t really run around properly and bowl.
“It is what it is. Injuries are part of the game, so we’ll just take each day.
“I’ve been pretty lucky, I haven’t really had much time out the game with injuries through my career so far.
“Hopefully we’re back here next year.”
Sams revealed that recovery could take “four to six months”, putting him in doubt for the start of the next edition of the Big Bash League, which gets underway in December.
“It’ll be looking to try and get back for Big Bash, whether it’s at the start or whenever my knee is right, basically,” he continued.
“With a long-term recovery like that, I’ve just got to try and think about the next day.”
Sams, contracted with the Thunder until 2026, has taken 105 wickets at 20.72 for the franchise since making his debut in 2018. He claimed 30 scalps during the 2019/20 summer, which remains a BBL record.