Australian proxy war intensifies as Pat Cummins joins MLC

Test and ODI captain signs for San Francisco franchise

Pat Cummins will play in the second season of Major League Cricket, it is understood.

The Australia Test and ODI captain is reported to have signed for the San Francisco Unicorns franchise, who share a strategic relationship with Victoria's first-class set up in Australia.

Cummins will join his new team ahead of the MLC tournament, which begins five days after the end of the T20 World Cup.

His signing increases the intensity of what could be seen as something of a proxy war in America between Victoria and rivals New South Wales.

In February, Ricky Ponting was unveiled as the new head coach of Washington Freedom.

Freedom are linked to Cricket NSW, which runs the team in partnership with Indian-American entrepreneur Sanjay Govil.

The two franchises are due to play each other on Monday, July 22nd in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Other top Australian stars to have joined the tournament include Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Spencer Johnson, Steve Smith and Jake Fraser-McGurk.

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