The Sydney Sixers have signed Western Australian off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli on a one-year deal ahead of KFC BBL|16, the club confirmed in a statement on Wednesday, October 14.
The 28-year-old arrives after a breakout Sheffield Shield season in which he claimed 46 wickets, the most by a WA spinner in 55 years and the most by any off-spinner in a Shield season in 33 years.
Sixers general manager Rachael Haynes said Rocchiccioli had been among the best spinners in the country over the past two seasons.
"Corey has been one of the standout spinners in Australian domestic cricket for a couple of seasons now, and we're thrilled to have him in Magenta this summer," Haynes said.
Haynes pointed to Rocchiccioli's height and bounce as a point of difference for the Sixers attack.
"His wicket taking ability and capacity to generate extra bounce gives our attack a point of difference through those middle overs," she said. "He's earned this opportunity, and we can't wait to see him in Magenta at the SCG."
Rocchiccioli, who stands over 190cm tall, has built a reputation for extracting steep bounce from off-spin. Across 52 first-class matches he has taken 179 wickets at an average of 30.43, with career-best figures of 7-52.
He has previously played Big Bash cricket for Perth Scorchers, Melbourne Renegades and Melbourne Stars, and will now turn out for a fourth franchise.
Rocchiccioli said he jumped at the chance to join the Sixers.
"I'm super pumped to get over East for this season's Big Bash. I grabbed at the chance when management offered me a chance to play at the Sixers," he said.
The off-spinner said he was familiar with the club's standing in the competition from the opposition dressing room.
"I've always loved the heritage and atmosphere when I've been the away team and super exciting to now call it home for this summer," he said.
He named several future teammates he was looking forward to playing alongside, including a reunion with Josh Philippe.
"I'm quite excited to play alongside the likes of Jordan [Silk], [Sean] Abbott, [Tim] Seifert and reunite with friends like Josh Philippe and upcoming players in the Davies brothers and Lachy Shaw," Rocchiccioli said.
The Sixers reached last season's Big Bash final, and Rocchiccioli said he wanted to help the club go one step further.
"It's great to be a part of a side that has a deep history of making the last stages of the tournament," he said. "Hopefully I can contribute heavily in us making a return to Big Bash final which we made last year."
Rocchiccioli joins a Sixers list that already includes Sean Abbott, Joel Davies, Ollie Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Chris Jordan, Riley Kingsell, Hayden Kerr, Josh Philippe, Fergus O'Neill, Tim Seifert, Jake Scott, Lachy Shaw, Jordan Silk and Steve Smith.
Born in Subiaco on October 8, 1997, Rocchiccioli bats right-handed and bowls right-arm off break. His 2023-24 Shield campaign came as Western Australia won a hat-trick of Sheffield Shield titles.
Tickets for the Sixers' KFC BBL|16 and WBBL campaigns are on sale now through the club's website.