The Melbourne Stars have secured New Zealand opener Finn Allen on a three-year deal ahead of BBL|16, concluding his two-season stint with the Perth Scorchers. The 27-year-old now occupies the twelfth spot on new head coach Cameron White’s 18-member roster for the upcoming campaign.
A standout performer for the Scorchers in BBL|15, Allen accumulated a tournament-leading 466 runs and claimed the Simon Katich Medal as the competition’s finest overseas player. Unable to match the Stars’ financial offer, Allen has chosen to relocate to Melbourne for the commencement of BBL|16.
He bolsters a Stars lineup that already features white-ball specialists Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis. Notably, the Melbourne Stars remain the only franchise in the competition yet to claim a Big Bash title.
How Did Allen Perform During His Time at Perth Scorchers?
Allen arrived in Perth as the club’s first BBL pre-signing, benefiting from a rule that permitted each franchise to secure one international player before the overseas draft—a regulation subsequently scrapped by league officials for both the men’s and women’s competitions. His inaugural season proved challenging, yielding just 181 runs across ten innings.
He rebounded impressively in BBL|15, striking the most sixes in a single Big Bash season with 38 maximums and securing a place in the BBL|15 Team of the Tournament. His finest innings came against the Renegades at Marvel Stadium, where he scored a rapid 101 off 53 balls. He also contributed scores of 49 and 36 in the Scorchers’ finals matches as Perth claimed an unprecedented sixth men’s title.
Following the BBL|15 triumph, Allen has maintained a prominent presence across global T20 competitions. He struck an unbeaten century from 33 balls during New Zealand’s T20 World Cup semi-final victory over South Africa, with the Black Caps advancing to the final. He subsequently amassed 349 runs for the Kolkata Knight Riders in his maiden Indian Premier League stint, including a century against the Delhi Capitals. A fourth season with the San Francisco Unicorns followed, prior to playing nine matches for the runners-up Trent Rockets in The Hundred.
“The Stars are a powerhouse team in this competition, so it’s going to be a lot of fun playing for them. They’ve already got a huge fanbase and they’re only getting bigger, and I can’t wait to be a part of that. I think all cricketers love playing at the MCG, so to be able to call that my home ground now is really exciting,” said Allen as quoted by cricket.com.au.
What Does Allen’s Arrival Mean for the Melbourne Stars’ BBL|16 Squad?
Allen fills the twelfth slot in Cameron White’s 18-man BBL|16 roster and represents the Stars’ second men’s signing since the league lifted a contracting embargo that had been enforced since February. Test-capped off-spinner Todd Murphy was added to the squad on Friday, joining leg-spinner Mitch Swepson in the bowling group. England’s Overton brothers, Jamie and Craig, have also been linked with the franchise in recent days. The Stars now boast a formidable top-order combination of Allen, Maxwell, and Stoinis, providing considerable firepower throughout their batting lineup for BBL|16.
