Carlos Brathwaite to return home after Thunder's final league game

Allrounder Carlos Brathwaite has confirmed that he won't be available to feature in the knockout phase of the Big Bash League for Sydney Thunder, should the defending champions qualify out of the league phase. Brathwaite will instead fly back home to play for Barbados in the Regional Super50 domestic one-day tournament after Thunder's final league game on Wednesday (January 16) against bottom-placed Adelaide Strikers.

Even though Thunder made a disastrous start to their title defence, they have come back strong to win three matches and are currently placed sixth in the table, just two points off the top spot. They will be in contention for a semifinal spot if they manage to beat the Strikers on Wednesday at the Sydney Showground Stadium.

Brathwaite was roped in as a replacement player for the injured Andre Russell. The star of the World T20 final has played only two matches so far and has taken five wickets. He batted once and scored only 6 runs against the Hobart Hurricanes. "Unfortunately, I still have to go home on [Thursday] morning to play in the Super50 tournament," Brathwaite told the Daily Telegraph Australia.