Monday, 22 April 2024:
 | | WES AGAR of Victoria bowls during the JLT One Day Cup match between New South Wales and Victoria at North Sydney Oval in Sydney, Australia. | |
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Wes Agar is set to end his eight-year stay in Adelaide and move to the Sydney Thunder as part of a Big Bash League trade deal between the two clubs.
AAP has been told the South Australian quick will be announced on a two-year deal this week, in a much-needed boost to the Thunder's bowling stocks.
Contracted to the Strikers until the end of next season, Agar debuted for the Adelaide outfit in 2016-17 and has played all of his 56 BBL games for the club.
As part of the trade deal, the two clubs will swap their second-round draft picks.
While the draft order is yet to be set for 2024-25, the Thunder are guaranteed to be higher in the list given they finished eighth last summer and the Strikers ran fourth.
Effectively, it means the Strikers will have an earlier shot at a platinum - or gold -level overseas player in the second round.
The deal is the first of its kind between clubs, with BBL officials having long hoped the offering of draft picks would encourage a more active player market.
Agar's signature is a coup for the Thunder after they finished bottom in last summer's competition, with Daniel Sams the only local quick to have any real impact.
While Agar was only picked in four BBL games last season, he has played white-ball cricket for Australia and was the Strikers' MVP three years ago with 22 wickets at 8.25.
"He's a proven performer in this format and one of the Big Bash's most likeable guys," Thunder's general manager Trent Copeland said.
"We want to bring in players who will ultimately perform and win games for the club, but it's also vitally important for us to attract good people who want to be a part of what we are building here."
