With the overseas player draft scrapped for the first time since 2022, Big Bash League clubs are making the most of the opportunity to sign players directly this season. Clubs are allowed to sign overseas and Australian players directly through the signing window for BBL 16, which opened on August 27, 2026.
Let’s take a look at the overseas players who have signed for BBL 16 so far.
1. Ben Stokes
The signing of former England Test captain Ben Stokes is the hot topic ahead of BBL 16. Adelaide Strikers have signed the 35-year-old, who recently retired from international cricket. The deal is reportedly worth around AU$500,000, making him one of the most expensive overseas players in BBL history.
Stokes isn’t new to the league, having played for Melbourne Renegades during the 2014/15 season. In four matches, he scored 128 runs at a strike rate of 156.09, with a best score of 77. With the ball, he picked up three wickets, with his best figures being 2/22.
Adelaide Strikers have recorded mixed results over the years, and the addition of Ben Stokes will give the side a major boost as they look to regain their former glory. Their best result in the league came in the seventh edition, when they lifted the title for the first time.
Ben Stokes will join former Australian Test captain Tim Paine, who is the head coach of the Adelaide Strikers.
2. Tim Seifert
Tim Seifert, who has become a freelance cricketer around the world after opting for a casual contract with New Zealand Cricket, has signed a one-year deal with Sydney Sixers ahead of BBL 16.
Seifert is currently one of the most sought-after top-order batters in T20 cricket around the world. He brings a wealth of experience to the Sydney Sixers with his explosive batting. He has featured in 90 T20Is for the Blackcaps and has scored 2,279 runs. Apart from representing New Zealand, Seifert has also made 343 T20 appearances around the world.
He represented Melbourne Renegades in the previous two seasons, scoring 485 runs across 20 matches at a strike rate of 136.61.
Seifert won the Player of the Tournament award in this year’s Men’s Hundred after scoring 394 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 168.37. He helped Manchester Super Giants lift their first-ever Men’s Hundred title with a game-changing knock of 72 off 38 balls in the final against Trent Rockets.
Tim Seifert is currently representing St Lucia Kings in the Caribbean Premier League.
3. Tom Curran
Brisbane Heat have secured the services of England and Surrey all-rounder Tom Curran for the upcoming BBL 16. He has already represented Sydney Sixers and Melbourne Stars, playing 52 matches across six seasons. Having knowledge of Australian conditions will be a major advantage for Curran, who is set to represent his third BBL team.
His numbers in the league speak volumes about his talent, as he has picked up 72 wickets, with best figures of 4/10. With the bat, he has scored 501 runs in 36 innings, with a top score of 62.
Tom Curran brings a valuable skill set with his pace bowling and has the ability to contribute with the bat down the order.
He is currently involved in the inaugural European T20 Premier League (ETPL) with Edinburgh Castle Rockers and has picked up 10 wickets in five matches.
4. Calvin Harrison
A superb campaign with the ball for Trent Rockets in the Men’s Hundred and Northamptonshire in the T20 Blast this year helped 28-year-old leg-spinner Calvin Harrison earn a deal with Perth Scorchers for BBL 16.
He guided Trent Rockets to the final of the Men’s Hundred this year, picking up 10 wickets in nine matches, with best figures of 2/25. Harrison was also instrumental in helping Northamptonshire secure the T20 Blast title, picking up 22 wickets in 14 matches, with best figures of 5/9.
Perth Scorchers head coach Adam Voges, who was also an assistant coach with Trent Rockets during the Men’s Hundred, is believed to have played a key role in bringing Calvin Harrison to the Scorchers for his maiden BBL stint.
5. Finn Allen
Kiwi power-hitter Finn Allen has signed for Melbourne Stars for the upcoming BBL 16.
Allen is in breathtaking form in the shortest format, both in franchise cricket around the globe and for New Zealand. He was the leading run-scorer in the previous BBL season, where he hammered 466 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 184.18. His superlative performances helped Perth Scorchers claim their sixth BBL title.
The 27-year-old also did well in the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders this season, scoring 349 runs in 11 innings. He also impressed in the Men’s Hundred 2026 for Trent Rockets, scoring 217 runs in nine games at a strike rate of 157.24.
Not only has he excelled in franchise cricket, but he has also made his mark for New Zealand, hammering 298 runs in eight innings at the T20 World Cup earlier this year. He finished as the fifth-highest run-scorer in the competition. His unbeaten 100 off 33 balls in the semi-final against South Africa at Eden Gardens was one of the best knocks of recent times.
