Australia's batting superstar Steve Smith will play in English cricket's Hundred competition for the first time in 2025, it was announced on Tuesday.
Smith, who recently captained Australia to victory over England in the ongoing Champions Trophy, has signed to play for Welsh Fire, coached by former Australia batsman Mike Hussey.
"I've watched the Hundred from afar and I can't wait to be involved," Smith said in an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) statement.
"It looks a lot of fun and obviously the cricket is world-class, with talent at every team."
The Hundred, a 100-balls-a-side format featuring both men's and women's teams, was launched in 2021.
Global investors, including four groups with links to the cash-rich Indian Premier League, have sunk nearly £1 billion ($1.25 billion) into the competition's eight city-based teams in recent weeks.
ECB chief executive Richard Gould said this month he wants to make the Hundred the "dominant competition" among its rivals.
Afghanistan's Rashid Khan and former Australia women's captain Meg Lanning have both signed for Oval Invincibles.
The list of overseas stars for this year's competition, taking place from August 5 to 31, also includes Australia's Megan Schutt, New Zealand's Trent Boult and South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen.
It is the first time teams have been able to sign one men's and one women's player directly, rather than having to sign players through the draft, which takes place on March 12.
Ben Stokes is set to miss out to focus on Test cricket and his fitness for the Ashes series in Australia, which starts at the end of the year.
The England Test captain, 33, has not been retained in the Northern Superchargers squad.
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