Badree signs with Brisbane Heat

West Indies legspinner Samuel Badree has signed with the Brisbane Heat for the 2015-16 Big Bash League. Badree, the No.1-ranked Twenty20 international bowler in the world, had signed with the Heat for last summer but was forced to withdraw due to a shoulder injury. He is yet to make his BBL debut.

Badree arrived in Brisbane this week to take up a short-term mentoring position at Cricket Australia's spin camp. He will return to Brisbane later this year and the Heat coach Daniel Vettori said he was pleased that Badree would again be part of the side's plans.

"We're delighted that Sammy has agreed to join the Heat for BBL 05," Vettori said. "It was a real shame for us that he was unable to be on board last season due to injury. Having played against him in the past, I know what a class performer he is on and off the field.

"He's a proven quality in T20 and I think the Australian conditions will suit him superbly. We're excited at the prospect of throwing him into the mix when we get down to business later in the year.

"It's great he will be spending some time in Australia at the National Cricket Centre over the next few weeks and certainly a bonus for us that he will have a chance to familiarise himself with Brisbane before he and his family come back ahead of the tournament this summer.

"We're working on the fact that he will be with us for the whole tournament so that is encouraging for us as we bed down our planning and final recruiting."