Adelaide has landed a headline act. Ben Stokes, the former England all‑rounder who walked away from international cricket in June, will join the Adelaide Strikers for the 2026-27 Big Bash League season, the club confirmed on Tuesday.
It is a signing that instantly shifts the balance of star power in the competition. At 35, Stokes is set to become one of the BBL’s most expensive players, with 7News reporting a deal worth around A$500,000 (£264,000). That figure underlines exactly how much the Strikers believe he can change games – and seasons.
Stokes, never one to tiptoe into a new challenge, sounded energised by the move.
“I’m really excited to be joining the Adelaide Strikers for BBL|16,” he said in a statement. Adelaide Oval, he added, is “an incredible place to play cricket”, praising the Big Bash as “a fantastic competition” and talking up an “exciting group” in the Strikers dressing room. His message was clear: he is not coming for a farewell lap, but to “get stuck in and contribute to a successful season.”
For Australian fans, the sight of Stokes in blue rather than England’s colours will take some getting used to. Once the Ashes villain in these parts, the man who tormented Australia on some of their biggest stages will now be playing under a former Australia captain.
Tim Paine, now in charge at the Strikers, did not hide his delight.
“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.”
The prospect is tantalising: Stokes under lights at Adelaide Oval, bat in hand, ball in hand, in a league built for drama. For a competition that lives on spectacle, the Strikers have just signed one of cricket’s ultimate box-office performers.
