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Ben Stokes, the former England captain, could become the most expensive player in BBL history after signing for Adelaide Strikers in what is a significant coup for the competition.

Stokes will be available for the full 2026-27 season and has become the first overseas player to join since the new contracting structure was confirmed last week, which has returned the BBL to a direct-signing model and given clubs more freedom of where they put their money.

That has opened the door for big-money signings such as Stokes’, with 7News reporting that his deal is in the region of AU$500,000 (US$360,000 approx.) which is well above the previous highest band at the platinum level of the draft which was AU$420,000. Other overseas signs in the coming weeks could also command hefty numbers.

There had been interest from a number of BBL clubs in Stokes’ signature but it is Strikers, coached by former Australia captain Tim Paine who was leading the Test side when Stokes produced his Headingley miracle in 2019, that have secured the one-year deal.

“I’m really excited to be joining the Adelaide Strikers for BBL|16,” Stokes said in a statement. “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.”

Paine said: “Ben is one of the greatest all-rounders the game has seen, a proven match-winner and a competitor who thrives under pressure. 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.”

It will bring Stokes back to Australia less than a year after last season’s Ashes all-but ended his international career. Although he retired at the end of the New Zealand series in June – after being suspended for a Test following a nightclub incident after the Lord’s Test – it was the 4-1 loss in the Ashes that had taken its toll.

It will be Stokes’ second season in the BBL after a four-game stint with Melbourne Renegades in 2014-15.

Stokes’ first game for Strikers will be against Sydney Thunder, who will include David Warner, in Canberra on December 16 with his first home game at Adelaide Oval on December 23 in the return Thunder fixture.

Stokes has not played a T20 since the 2024 edition of the Hundred where he picked up a hamstring injury. He was due to appear in the SA20 for MI Cape Town in early 2025 but was ruled out after another hamstring injury he sustained against New Zealand.

He has previously played for three teams in the IPL, most recently Chennai Super Kings in 2023. In 2017 Stokes was the most expensive overseas player in the IPL when he was bought for INR 14.5 crore (US$2.16 million approx. at the time) to Rising Pune Supergiants. He fetched another INR 16.25 crore (US$1.9 million approx. at the time) when CSK acquired him in 2023, although was limited to two matches by a knee problem.

Both his T20 hundreds were scored in the IPL but one of his standout moments in the format came in Australia when he guided England to the 2022 T20 World Cup title with an unbeaten 52 against Pakistan at the MCG.

There is less overlap between the major T20 leagues in the upcoming 2026-27 season with the start of the SA20 having been pushed back until January 18 to accommodate an England ODI series while the UAE-based ILT20 finishes on December 20, one week into the BBL.

The BBL starts on December 12 with Renegades playing Perth Scorchers in Chennai. The regular season ends on January 17 with finals running from January 19 to January 26.