Ben Stokes retired from the England National Cricket Team, but might not have entirely said goodbye to the game, as multiple franchises are looking to secure the services of the former England captain for the upcoming Big Bash League 2026 (BBL 2026) season.
According to a CODE Sports report, Australian cricket officials are confident that Ben Stokes will likely feature in the franchise league, as multiple teams want to add the star all-rounder to their respective squads.
Ben Stokes eyes BBL return with Sydney Sixers leading race for England legend: Report
Ahead of BBL 2026, Stokes is currently considered one of the most in-demand players in the market. Sydney Sixers are considered the frontrunner to secure the services of Stokes.
Australian cricket officials are increasingly optimistic that Ben Stokes will play in the Big Bash League this summer, with several rival clubs viewing the Sydney Sixers as leading contenders for his services.
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— CODE Cricket (@codecricketau) July 31, 2026
However, as of now, nothing is finalized yet. But the cricket officials in Australia are optimistic about Stokes’ potential stint in the Big Bash League in the summer.
Why the Sydney Sixers have emerged as the favourites for Ben Stokes’ signing
Australian cricket coach Matthew Mott is believed to be one of the reasons Stokes emerges as a potential player to join the Sydney Sixers. The BBL franchise appointed him as the men’s cricket team’s head coach ahead of the 2026 season, in July this year, on a two-year deal. Mott had close associations with the England cricket team as well.
Previously, he coached the England Men’s national cricket team in the white-ball format and helped the team win the T20 World Cup in 2022. As he was the coach of the England cricket team, he shared a close bond with Stokes, who played a pivotal role in England’s 2022 T20 World Cup triumph.
Sydney Sixers lack firepower in the squad after the departure of Moises Henriques, who was a proven pace-bowling all-rounder in T20 cricket. Ben Stokes will be a like-for-like substitution in place of Henriques.
What Ben Stokes’ return would mean for the Big Bash League
Like most of the England international cricketers, Stokes mostly prioritized playing for the national side over participation in franchise leagues across the world. He played a few matches for the Melbourne Renegades back in the 2014-15 season. In 4 matches for the Renegades, the all-rounder scored 128 runs in four matches and as many innings and took three wickets as well.
Stokes joined the Melbourne Renegades as an injury replacement for Jesse Ryder for the remainder of that specific BBL season. It was a short-term deal, and he left the team as soon as the deal expired. During his brief spell for the BBL franchise, Stokes played a brilliant 77 off 37 balls against the Hobart Hurricanes.
Over the years, before retiring from international cricket, Ben Stokes established himself as one of the most decorated all-rounders in modern cricket, scoring 3027 runs in T20Is alongside 93 wickets to his name. His addition to the league will be an instant attraction for the Big Bash League, as cricket fans across the world will love to see the former England captain back in action.