Ben Stokes may have stepped away from international cricket, but the former England captain is not expected to disappear from the game just yet. According to a report from CODE Sports, several Big Bash League franchises are chasing the star all-rounder for the upcoming BBL 2026 season, with Australian cricket officials increasingly confident that Stokes could feature in the competition this summer.
Among the clubs in the race, Sydney Sixers are believed to be the frontrunners to land Stokes, although no deal has been finalized at this stage. Even so, the growing optimism around his possible BBL return has made him one of the most talked-about names in the franchise market ahead of the new season. For Australian cricket, his presence would be a major boost both on and off the field.
A big reason behind the Sixers’ interest is their newly appointed men’s head coach, Matthew Mott. The former England white-ball coach joined the franchise in July on a two-year deal and already has a strong working relationship with Stokes from his time with the England set-up.
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Mott was part of England’s T20 World Cup-winning campaign in 2022, when Stokes played a key role in the team’s success, and that existing connection could prove decisive in any move to Sydney. The Sixers are also in need of a genuine pace-bowling all-rounder after the departure of Moises Henriques, and Stokes would be a natural replacement. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him an ideal fit for a side looking to maintain balance in T20 cricket.
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
For that reason, the England great is viewed as a like-for-like option who could fill a major gap in the squad. Ben Stokes has rarely played franchise cricket during his career, preferring national duty over league commitments, but he did have a brief stint with the Melbourne Renegades in the 2014-15 BBL season.
That spell came as an injury replacement for Jesse Ryder and produced some memorable moments, including a brilliant 77 off 37 balls against the Hobart Hurricanes. In four matches for the Renegades, he scored 128 runs and picked up three wickets before returning to England duties.
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Over the years, Stokes established himself as one of the most complete all-rounders in modern cricket. In T20 Internationals alone, he scored 3,027 runs and took 93 wickets, underlining the value he could bring to any franchise side. If the move goes through, his return to the Big Bash League would be one of the biggest storylines of the summer and a major attraction for cricket fans around the world.
