Ross Whiteley admitted his history-making six-hitting blast against Yorkshire in the NatWest T20 Blast this summer helped to secure a stint in the forthcoming Bangladesh Premier League.
The Worcestershire all-rounder became the first English player in the history of the game to hit sixes in an over – against spinner Karl Carver – in the clash at Headingley.
Whiteley is to play for the new Sylhet Sixers franchise – along with Yorkshire’s Liam Plunkett – from November 2 to December 20.
The 29-year-old, who has smashed 62 sixes in the last three T20 Blast tournaments, has often spoken of his desire to play in such tournaments and now he will have the opportunity to fulfil that goal.
Whiteley said: “I’ve been really excited seeing some of the T20 competitions on TV and to get the opportunity to play in a tournament like that is perfect.
“How did the opportunity come about? It was a bit of a talk between my agent and myself. He’d been in touch with a couple of teams, put my name around.
“Then it kind of locked in coming off the back off the Yorkshire game. Those six sixes really helped to lock in the opportunity.
“Were there teams showing an interest already by then? I think there were a couple but we made a decision to stick with one (Sylhet Sixers) rather than going in the auction.”
Whiteley added: “I probably didn’t realise at the time what sort of attention the six sixes was going to attract.
“The following days, seeing a few things on social media and having a few people contact me, made me realise what I had done.
“I know it’s not just because of that but to get a gig in a tournament on the back of that is pretty exciting.”
*Read a full interview with Ross Whiteley on the Worcs CCC website during the next few days.
