'Huge coup for the Big Bash': Jos Buttler reacts to Ben Stokes joining BBL side Adelaide Strikers

'Huge coup for the Big Bash': Jos Buttler reacts to Ben Stokes joining BBL side Adelaide Strikers originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Jos Buttler called Ben Stokes' Big Bash move a huge coup for the competition.

Former England captain Stokes has signed for the Adelaide Strikers for the 2026-27 BBL season.

Buttler believes Stokes will have an opening slot written into his contract.

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Jos Buttler, for one, is excited for Ben Stokes' Big Bash return

Ben Stokes' switch to the Big Bash has generated no shortage of reaction, and among the most enthusiastic voices has been that of his former England captain.

Jos Buttler, speaking on the For The Love Of Cricket podcast alongside Stuart Broad, hailed the Adelaide Strikers' signing as a significant moment for the tournament.

Stokes will feature for the Strikers across the full 2026-27 season, in a deal reported to be worth around AU$500,000, potentially making him the most expensive player in the competition's history. It brings him back to Australia less than a year after the Ashes defeat that effectively ended his international career.

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Buttler, who has his own history in the BBL, was well placed to assess what the move means for both player and competition.

MORE: Ben Stokes joins Adelaide Strikers: Salary, BBL record and how many matches will he play

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Why Jos Buttler calls Stokes' Big Bash move a huge coup

Buttler was quick to underline the scale of the signing, drawing on his own experience of Australian franchise cricket with the Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Thunder. "Yeah, big news," Buttler said. "Obviously, a huge coup for the Big Bash to sign Ben Stokes. That will bring eyeballs and all sorts of talking points to the Big Bash."

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He acknowledged that the move represented a genuine change of direction for Stokes, who has drifted away from the shortest format over recent years. "It'll be interesting for Stokes. He obviously played less and less white-ball cricket for a long time. Hasn't played much T20 for a long time," Buttler said.

But he was excited to see the former English skipper back in franchise cricket. "So it'll be really interesting for him to go back into this sort of franchise world and play the short form again," he said.

Buttler also does not doubt the quality the Strikers were acquiring. "You're obviously getting a determined, fit, firing overseas signing. Stokes is amazing. He ticks batting, he ticks bowling, great fielder, leadership, all that kind of stuff," he said. "So you'd think Adelaide Strikers will be very, very happy having such a player."

MORE: Ben Stokes BBL return: Adelaide Strikers coach Tim Paine backs England star to open in Big Bash League 2026-27 season

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Why Buttler expects Stokes to open the batting

Buttler also offered a light-hearted prediction about where Stokes would slot into the Strikers' order, suggesting the all-rounder would have negotiated a specific role for himself. He joked that an opening position would likely be a condition of the contract.

It is a fair assumption given Stokes' recent history. Having opened for England in Tests during the latter part of his captaincy, he has shown a clear preference for facing the new ball, and a franchise paying record money is unlikely to resist such a request.

The bigger question is his fitness. Stokes has not played a T20 since the 2024 Hundred, when he picked up a hamstring injury, and his career has been repeatedly interrupted by physical problems.

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But as Buttler's assessment made clear, a fit and motivated Stokes remains one of the most complete cricketers in the world, and the Strikers will bank on getting exactly that.

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