ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 20: Aaron Finch, David Warner and Steve Smith of Australia sing the national anthem during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup match between Australian and Pakistan at Adelaide Oval on March 20, 2015 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Three of Australia's white-ball superstars have joined a group of international names in signing on play in the first-ever Major League Cricket tournament in the United States.
The tournament will be played in a three-week period in July in Texas and North Carolina between six teams; Dallas, San Fransisco, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Seattle and New York City. Each team has a $1.5 million salary cap between 18 players and no more than seven international recruits.
The MLC draft was held to situate the homes of the international stars and Aaron Finch was announced as the captain of the San Fransisco Unicorns, where Marcus Stoinis and 19-year-old Aussie Brady Couch will also play.
The Seattle Orcas were lucky enough to claim the hard-hitting Mitch Marsh, while wicket-keeper Matthew Wade is reported to potentially join the competition himself.
Steve Smith will not be available for the tournament due to conflicting schedules with the Ashes but is apparently in talks with officials to potentially feature in the 2024 tournament.
Finally, West-Australian fast bowler Cameron Gannon will also play for Seattle as a dual US/Australian citizen, rounding out the Australian names in this tournament.
The inaugural Major League Cricket tournament is set to begin later this year on July 13.