Ollie Davies Joins Sydney Sixers as Thunder Face Review After Last-Place Finish

Ollie Davies will join his brother Joel at the Sydney Sixers next season after signing a three-year deal with the Big Bash League club, departing Sydney Thunder amid an ongoing review of their disappointing campaign.

Davies, 25, moves as a free agent during the player movement window after making just one appearance for Thunder in the 2025–26 season. His exit comes in the same week Thunder are set to table a season review with Cricket New South Wales following a last-placed finish that yielded just two wins.

“I’m so excited to sign with the Sydney Sixers for the next three years,” Davies said in a statement. “It’s a childhood dream to play professional cricket alongside my little brother Joel. We’re both stoked to pull on the magenta together and run out at the SCG.

“I hope I can make meaningful contributions as we fight to bring home a championship for our fans.”

Davies rose to prominence with Thunder during the 2022–23 season, scoring three half-centuries to help the club reach the finals. He featured in nine matches last season, including the final against Hobart Hurricanes, but fell out of favour in 2025–26 as Thunder struggled for consistency with the bat despite a standout season from David Warner.

The move coincides with a broader review of Thunder’s future, including that of head coach Trevor Bayliss. Cricket NSW chief executive Lee Germon confirmed discussions would take place this week but stressed no decisions had yet been made.

“We’re in the process of formulating some decisions in terms of the Thunder moving forward,” Germon told ESPNcricinfo. “I have a meeting this week where I’m going to be privy to the review, so I’m not in a position to make any comment.”

Bayliss has coached Thunder for five seasons, guiding them to three finals appearances, including a runner-up finish in 2024–25. However, the 2025–26 wooden spoon marked the second time Thunder have finished last during his tenure, following a similar result in 2023–24.

The Thunder review follows recent upheaval at Cricket NSW, which last week decided to part ways with long-serving Sixers coach Greg Shipperd despite a season remaining on his contract. The decision came after a Sixers review into a campaign that saw them reach the BBL final for the third time in five seasons. The Sixers have not finished lower than third in the past seven seasons but have not won a title since 2020–21.

Cricket NSW also confirmed that the 2025–26 season would be Shipperd’s final year in charge of the NSW Sheffield Shield and One-Day Cup sides, despite both teams remaining in title contention and with games still to play. Shipperd had been contracted through to the end of the 2026–27 season.

The Sixers’ squad remains in flux, with long-time captain Moises Henriques and veteran batter Daniel Hughes yet to re-sign and both eligible to move as free agents. Offspinner Todd Murphy is also likely to depart after losing his place in the XI midway through the season following his call-up to Australia’s Test squad.

Veteran legspinner Adam Zampa has emerged as a potential free-agent target for the Sixers after opting not to re-sign with the Melbourne Renegades.

Sydney Sixers contract list:
Sean Abbott, Joel Davies, Ollie Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Hayden Kerr, Josh Philippe, Lachlan Shaw, Jordan Silk, Steve Smith