Former England captain Ben Stokes has made a breakthrough by becoming the most expensive player in the Big Bash League (BBL). The Adelaide Strikers signed him for the 2026-27 season, and he will be available for the entire season. This is his second appearance in the BBL; previously, he played for the Melbourne Renegades in the 2014-15 season, participating in four matches.
Despite interest from many BBL franchises, Adelaide Strikers ultimately secured him. Recent changes to the contract system in the BBL have seen the league revert to a Direct Signing Model, granting franchises greater freedom in spending on players. Thanks to this new system, Stokes became the first overseas player signed for the entire season.
Adelaide Strikers signed a one-year contract with Stokes. The team's coach, former Australian captain Tim Paine, noted that in 2019, when Stokes played against Australia in Headingley, Paine was the captain of the Australian Test team.
After joining Adelaide Strikers, Stokes expressed great enthusiasm about participating in BBL 16. He stated that he had always wanted to play in Australia and could not refuse the opportunity to join the Strikers. Stokes called the Adelaide Oval a magnificent sporting venue and expressed his readiness to meet the team's players, take the field, and contribute to a successful season. He also addressed the Strikers fans, saying he looked forward to creating special memories and giving the fans many reasons to celebrate.
Adelaide Strikers coach Tim Paine highly praised Stokes, calling him one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history. Paine emphasized that Stokes has proven his ability to be a match-winner and demonstrate outstanding performance under pressure.
Although Stokes has a long association with the BBL, he has not played in the league for a long time. His last appearance was in the 2014-15 season for the Melbourne Renegades, where he played four matches. He will now return to the Big Bash after approximately 12 years. The Strikers' first match will be on December 16 against the Sydney Thunder in Canberra. David Warner will also participate for the Sydney Thunder in this match. After this, Stokes will play at home for his new team, Adelaide Oval, on December 23 against the Sydney Thunder.
According to a 7News report, his deal is valued at approximately three and a half million rupees (about $360,000 USD), significantly exceeding the previous highest platinum draft range of AU$420,000 (284,000). Other overseas players may also receive high sums in the coming weeks.
Stokes' return to the BBL is also significant because he announced his retirement from international cricket in June 2026. Last season's Ashes series had a strong impact on his international career, as Australia defeated England 4-1. Following this, Stokes bid farewell to international cricket after the series against New Zealand in June. He was previously suspended from one Test match due to an incident in a nightclub after a match at Lord's. Now, Stokes is focused on franchise cricket.
Stokes last played T20 cricket in 'The Hundred' tournament in 2024, where he sustained a hamstring injury. He was scheduled to participate in SA20 in early 2025 for MI Cape Town, but he was excluded from this tournament due to another hamstring injury against New Zealand.
Stokes has played for three different teams in the IPL. Most recently, he was part of the Chennai Super Kings in 2023. In 2017, he became the most expensive foreign player in the IPL when Rising Pune Supergiants acquired him for 14.5 crore rupees. In 2023, Chennai Super Kings spent even more, 16.25 crore rupees, on Stokes, although due to injury he only managed to play two matches that season. Both of his T20 centuries were scored in the IPL. However, his most memorable T20 performance took place in Australia. In the 2022 T20 World Cup final, he helped England win the title by scoring 52 unbeaten runs against Pakistan.
In the upcoming 2026-27 season, there are fewer scheduling overlaps between major T20 leagues compared to previous years. The start of SA20 has been postponed to January 18 as its schedule was adjusted to accommodate England's ODI series. Furthermore, the ILT20 league in the UAE will conclude on December 20, limiting overlap with the BBL. The new BBL season will begin on December 12. The first match will be in Chennai between the Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers. The regular season will end on January 17, with playoffs and final matches taking place from January 19 to 26.