CRICKET: ESSEX all-rounder Ravi Bopara is excited to be joining the Sydney Sixers in Australia’s domestic Twenty20 Big Bash League (BBL) this winter.

Bopara, 28, currently on 50-over a-side duty for Prime Bank Cricket Club in Bangladesh, will join forces with his Sixers teammates-including Australian internationals Brad Haddin, Mitchell Starc, and Twenty20 specialist Brett Lee-late next month to gain some valuable match practice ahead of his debut in the new year.

“That does help – coming out and playing four games will make a difference in my preparation for the main squad,” Bopara said.

“We’re supposed to join the main squad on January 1, but they’ve given me an extra week to spend with the Sixers so they hopefully think it’s a better way to prepare than just do some nets.”

Bopara is also hoping to be named in England’s one-day international squad for the five-match series against Australia after the Ashes, from January 12-26.

“I love playing for new teams, meeting new people and setting myself those sort of challenges,” he said.

“It’s never easy just joining a team, you know you’re under pressure to perform because they expect you to perform – coaches, players and other local teams all expect you to perform. It’s good, it puts you under pressure and it stands you in good stead for international cricket.”

Bopara’s England teammates Michael Lumb and Chris Tremlett have already agreed terms with the Sixers for the BBL, which begins on December 20 and concludes after the final on February 7, 2014.

“The BBL is pretty jazzed up compared to what we play in England – ours is just a stock-standard Twenty20 competition,” he said.

“But you look at BBL and see the stumps light up, big crowds and all these bright kits. “I think it’s brilliant. “There’s only a few teams as well, which makes it a very strong competition.

“I had a look at the Sixers squad and I think we’ll do very well. We’ve got Lumb at the top of the order, who makes a difference, and I hope to make a big difference there as well.”