Ben Stokes returns to BBL after joining Adelaide Strikers

[p]The 35-year-old all-rounder was highly sought after by multiple BBL franchises due to his full availability for the tournament following his full retirement from all international cricket earlier this year.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stokes-ben/bqDhqGMG/"]Stokes[/a] was being pursued by at least three separate BBL sides, with the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/adelaide/QX6eSBCb/"]Adelaide Strikers[/a] winning a race that also included the Sydney Sixers and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/melbourne-renegades/rZj3O9dH/"]Melbourne Renegades[/a]. [/p][p]He made four BBL appearances for Melbourne Renegades during the 2014/15 season, taking three wickets and making a top score of 77. [/p][p]Cricket Australia sources speaking anonymously confirmed the deal early on Tuesday morning, having played a role in recruiting Stokes to the league as potentially the biggest acquisition of the upcoming season. [/p][p]Stokes is the 11th contracted Striker for BBL16 which includes international players [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/carey-alex/0jSW0rT0/"]Alex Carey[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/short-matthew/K6i23oVb/"]Matt Short[/a] as well as regular starters [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/thornton-henry/QREtSQN5/"]Henry Thornton[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/scott-liam/UP9kZ2jh/"]Liam Scott[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sangha-jason/jqDofjJF/"]Jason Sangha[/a]. [/p][p]Adelaide have not re-signed any of their overseas players from last season - [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ali-moeen/8rrAqKrp/"]Hassan Ali[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/overton-jamie/OUCwfSwJ/"]Jamie Overton[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/shamsi-tabraiz/MgzzyxEI/"]Tabraiz Shamsi[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wood-luke/G8xs2Wht/"]Luke Wood[/a] - whilst [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lynn-chris/jRqlUXYC/"]Chris Lynn[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/head-travis/EiBJThAd/"]Travis Head[/a] are also currently out of contract. [/p][p]The Strikers begin BBL16 away to Sydney Thunder in Canberra on December 16. [/p][h2]Adelaide Strikers squad (contracted)[/h2][p]Alex Carey, Mackenzie Harvey, Thomas Kelly, Lloyd Pope, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Matt Short, Ben Stokes, Tom Straker, Henry Thornton, Jerrssis Wadia[/p][infobox id="d39bc573-b9dd-4b87-acb9-2de1f22d36c7" /]