Melbourne Stars, on Monday (September 4), secured the services of Big Bash League’s two-time leading run-scorer Ben Dunk for the next two seasons.
The left-handed batsman plied his trade for Adelaide Strikers last year and ended the 2016-17 season as the highest run-getter with 364 runs to his name. The hard-hitting batsman, who has represented Australia in five T20 Internationals, had previously topped the run-scoring charts in BBL-3 when he had amassed 395 runs with Hobart Hurricanes. His impressive performance last season had also helped him to earn a recall from the national team for the T20I series against Sri Lanka in February this year.
Expressing his excitement over signing the deal, the opening batsman said:
“I’m really excited to join the Melbourne Stars. It’s a great opportunity to work with Stephen Fleming and new captain John Hastings. I’m looking forward to joining up with the squad this summer to work on our pursuit of a Big Bash League title.”
The Melbourne-based outfit has also handed a full-time contract to Victorian fast-bowler Jackson Coleman. Last year, he was called up by the Stars as a replacement for the injured John Hastings.
Trent Woodhill, Stars Director of Cricketer, welcomed Dunk in the team and backed him to bolster the batting lineup that boasts the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Kevin Pietersen, Marcus Stoinis, Luke Wright and James Faulkner.
“To secure the experience of Ben is really exciting. He’ll obviously bolster an already strong batting line-up and to have another ‘keeping option is a real positive,” Woodhill said.
On handing Jackson a full-time contract, Woodhill said:
“Jackson is a young talent, and his left-arm pace will provide us with greater bowling options this season. We can’t wait to see how he develops this season to push for a Stars debut.”
Here is the Melbourne Stars squad for the upcoming season:
John Hastings (c), Michael Beer, Scott Boland, Jackson Coleman, Ben Dunk, James Faulkner, Seb Gotch, Evan Gulbis, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Ben Hilfenhaus, Glenn Maxwell, Kevin Pietersen, Rob Quiney, Marcus Stoinis, Daniel Worrall, Luke Wright, Adam Zampa.