Melbourne Stars have landed one of the Big Bash’s most destructive openers, signing Finn Allen on a three-year deal beginning with BBL|16. The 27-year-old was the leading run-scorer in BBL|15 with 466 runs and was named best overseas player with the Simon Katich Medal.
From slow start to record-breaking season
Allen’s first campaign with Perth Scorchers was modest, bringing 181 runs from 10 innings. He turned that around in BBL|15, hitting a record 38 sixes and earning a place in the Team of the Tournament.
His highest score of the season was 101 off 53 balls against Melbourne Renegades. He also made 49 and 36 during Perth’s finals run, which ended with the Scorchers winning their sixth BBL title.
Form elsewhere
Allen has kept up that level in other leagues. He struck an unbeaten century off 33 balls for New Zealand in their T20 World Cup semi-final against South Africa, and in his first IPL season he scored 349 runs for Kolkata Knight Riders, including a hundred against Delhi Capitals.
What it means for the Stars
He joins a batting group that already includes Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis. The Stars remain the only BBL franchise never to win the title.
Allen said he was excited to join the club and to play his home matches at the MCG. He is the 12th player in Cameron White’s 18-man squad for BBL|16, and the Stars will hope the new top-order mix helps them chase a first championship.
