England's prominent all-rounder Ben Stokes recently announced his retirement from international cricket, clearing the path for his participation in various T20 leagues around the globe. Continuing this journey, he is now set to feature in the upcoming season of the Big Bash League. He has officially signed a contract with the Adelaide Strikers to play in the tournament. This marks a major comeback for Stokes, who will return to the Big Bash League after nearly 12 years. Previously, he represented the Melbourne Renegades during the 2014-15 season.
Lucrative Salary and Major Offers
Earlier, Ben Stokes focused his entire attention on the England national team, but he is now completely free to participate in franchise leagues. Additionally, fans may soon see him playing an entire season in the Indian Premier League. According to Cricket Australia, the former England captain has officially joined the Adelaide Strikers team for the upcoming BBL season. He received lucrative offers from the Sydney Sixers and Melbourne Renegades as well, but he ultimately chose the Adelaide Strikers. Stokes will be available to play throughout the entire tournament and will receive a salary of approximately AUD $500,000, which amounts to roughly 3.41 crore rupees for this season.
Boost in Popularity and Excitement
The Australian cricket board itself had been making efforts to bring a star player like Stokes to Australia, as they believe his arrival will significantly increase the popularity and excitement of the tournament. Apart from Stokes, New Zealand batsman Tim Seifert, who performed brilliantly in England's The Hundred tournament, is also expected to secure a heavy price tag in this year's Big Bash League.
A Look at International Career Statistics
Reflecting on Ben Stokes's international career, he managed to play 122 Tests, 114 ODIs, and 43 T20I matches. In Test cricket, he scored 7,273 runs across 220 innings while claiming 252 wickets with the ball. In ODI cricket, he amassed 3,463 runs and took 74 wickets. In T20 Internationals, he succeeded in taking 26 wickets. Overall, Stokes carries the experience of playing in 162 T20 matches, where he has picked up 93 wickets.
