Former England captain Ben Stokes has confirmed he will join the Big Bash League for the upcoming summer, signing on with the Adelaide Strikers.
Under the international player rules in the BBL, teams are allowed to pre-sign one player, and the Strikers have used their spot on Stokes, confirming he will be available for the entirety of the tournament, instead of jetting off midway through to either the United Arab Emirates or South Africa.
In what will be a major boost for the Strikers, Stokes will join the side who missed the finals last year for his first BBL stint since he turned out for the Melbourne Renegades in 2014-15, and said he was excited by the opportunity.
"I'm really excited to be joining the Adelaide Strikers for BBL|16," Stokes said.
"I've always enjoyed playing in Australia, and when the opportunity came up to join the Strikers it was one I couldn't pass up.
"Adelaide Oval is an incredible place to play cricket, the Big Bash is a fantastic competition and the Strikers have an exciting group, so I'm looking forward to meeting the players, getting stuck in and contributing to a successful season.
"I can't wait to get started, create some special memories with the group and give Strikers fans plenty to cheer about."
The all-rounder has played 122 Tests, 114 ODIs and 43 T20Is, captaining England in recent years during an international career that has brought with it more than 11,000 runs and 350 wickets across the three formats.
He has played a total of 162 T20s, with 119 of them coming at domestic level, where he has scored 3027 runs at 24.41 and a strike rate of 132.87, while he also has 93 wickets at 30.91.
The star all-rounder has made his class clear against Australia over the years, and Adelaide coach Tim Paine said Stokes' signature would be a major boost.
"Ben is one of the greatest all-rounders the game has seen, a proven match-winner and a competitor who thrives under pressure," Paine said.
"We're thrilled to have a player of his ability join our squad and can't wait to see him put on a show in BBL|16.
"Our fans have watched him produce some of the most memorable moments over the past decade, and now they'll have the chance to see him in Strikers blue.
"Adelaide Oval is the best place in the world to play and watch cricket, so we're looking forward to seeing our members and fans flock through the gates to watch him in action."
In other news, journalist Tom Morris is reporting that Australian short-form bowler Adam Zampa will join the Hobart Hurricanes.
While the dealis yet to be formally announced, Zampa last moved ahead of 2023-24 when he joined the Melbourne Renegades.
A veteran on the T20 circuit, he has 118 internationals and a grand total of 342 matches where he has taken 423 wickets at 21.56.
The Big Bash starts on December 12 with the Renegades taking on the Scorchers in Chennai, before the first match on Australian soil sees the Heat play the Sixers in Brisbane three days later.
The Strikers open their season on December 16 in Canberra against the Thunder, while the Hurricanes host the Heat on December 17 in Hobart.
