New Delhi, May 29 (HS): England all-rounder Jamie Overton will once again be seen playing for the Adelaide Strikers in the next season of the Big Bash League (BBL). The franchise has included him in the team under International Pre-signing prior to the upcoming Overseas Draft.

Overton has played 18 matches for the Strikers over the last two seasons and was also named the 'Most Valuable Player' (MVP) of the previous season. He has taken 27 wickets so far, boasting an economy rate of 8.81. In batting, he has played a brilliant finisher's role, scoring 276 runs with a strike rate of 150.81. In a match against the Sydney Sixers last season, he scored an unbeaten 32 runs off just 14 balls.

A new rule was implemented in the BBL last year, allowing teams to sign one foreign player before the draft, provided that the player is available to play for the entire season and the final match. This aims to address the issue of players leaving in the final stages of the season.

Strikers’ coach Tim Paine expressed happiness over Overton’s re-signing. He stated in a statement released by the franchise, Signing Jamie before the draft was a priority for us. He has performed exceptionally with both bat and ball over the last two seasons, and his energy brings enthusiasm to the entire team. He can change the course of a match in just a few overs.

Overton also expressed his excitement about his return, saying, I am extremely happy to be back in Adelaide. My experience with the Strikers has been fantastic, and the support we get at Adelaide Oval is incredible. This time we will be aiming for the BBL title.

With Overton's signing, the Sydney Sixers remain the only team yet to sign any foreign player pre-signing. On the other hand, Colin Munro (Brisbane Heat), Chris Jordan (Hobart Hurricanes), Tim Seifert (Melbourne Renegades), Tom Curran (Melbourne Stars), Finn Allen (Perth Scorchers), and Sam Billings (Sydney Thunder) are already on two-year contracts.

There will also be some changes in the Strikers' team for the next season. Brendan Doggett and Jake Weatherald have joined the Renegades and Hurricanes as free agents, respectively. Meanwhile, Jason Sangha, who has performed exceptionally for South Australia, has now joined the Strikers from the Thunder.

Adelaide Strikers' Team:

Cameron Boyce, Jordan Buckingham, Alex Carey, Thomas Kelly, Harry Nielsen, Jamie Overton, Lloyd Pope, Alex Ross, Jason Sangha, Matt Short, Henry Thornton.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar