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Former England captain Ben Stokes has decided to return to the Big Bash League, with the legendary all-rounder joining Adelaide Strikers for the 16th season of the tournament. He is likely to become the most expensive player in the history of the league.

Stokes will be available for the entire campaign, becoming the first overseas signing since the BBL introduced the contract system. The new model allows the franchises to directly negotiate with the international players, adding more flexibility to budget spending.

According to 7News, Stokes contract is worth around Australian Dollars 500,000 (approximately US Dollars 360,000), surpassing the previous maximum salary of Australian Dollars 420,000 assigned to Platinum category under the draft system.

“I am excited to be joining the  Adelaide Strikers for BBL 16,” Stokes said.

“I have enjoyed playing in Australia and when I was given a chance to play for the Strikers, I couldn’t say no.

“Adelaide Oval is a good place to play cricket, and the Big Bash is a fantastic competition. Strikers are an incredible group, so I am looking forward to meeting the players and contributing to a successful campaign.

“I can’t wait to play my first game for the franchise and create special memories and give Strikers supporters plenty to cheer about,” he added.

Several franchises were in the race to sign Stokes, but Adelaide were able to get their target. Tim Paine is the head coach of the Strikers.

Stokes will return to Australia for the first time since losing the Ashes. The result started his downfall as England went down by a margin of 1-4, with Stokes announcing retirement from international cricket after a defeat in the New Zealand series at home. He was also dropped from the team for one Test for an incident outside the nightclub after a win over the Kiwis in the Lord’s Test.

Stokes has been a part of the BBL in the past, but his previous outing came a decade ago. He played four matches for the Melbourne Renegades during the 2014-15 season.

He will play his first game for his new franchise on December 16, when Adelaide face Sydney Thunder in Canberra. Stokes will be up against David Warner, who plays for the Thunder. He will make his Adelaide Strikers debut on December 23 when the team host the Thunder.

Stokes will also make a return to the T20 format after a long break. His previous stint in the slam-bang version came in the 2024 Hundred, where he injured his hamstring. He was all set to play for MI Cape Town in the 2025 SA20 but was ruled out after suffering a hamstring issue during England’s bilateral assignment against New Zealand.

Stokes has also made his presence felt in the Indian Premier League, giving his services to three franchises. His most recent appearance was for the Chennai Super Kings in 2023.