Ben Stokes is heading down under for the Big Bash, and he’s found an unlikely housemate with Australian opener Travis Head set to keep an eye on the former England captain.
Stokes will return to the BBL for the first time in more than a decade after signing a blockbuster deal with the Adelaide Strikers last week.
The 35-year-old is set to play the full season, having retired as England captain earlier this year after a home series defeat to New Zealand, which also saw him dropped for the second Test after breaking a midnight curfew.
Head, who was the chief destroyer of Stokes’ England last summer, smashing 629 runs at an average of 62.9, said he would ensure the England superstar will be well looked after while joking he will keep him away from Adelaide’s infamous Hindley Street.
“Yeah, I’ve got a new housemate… big Stokesy! He’s going to play and kick up at mine for a few weeks, and I’ll make sure to look after him,” he told Triple M’s The Rush Hour with JB & Billy.
“I’ll probably keep how I look after him offline; he’s been in enough trouble over the last six weeks. They stay one street back from Hindley Street, so those bright lights I’m worried about it but he’ll be right.”
While Stokes was public enemy number one during last summers Ashes, Head said his signing is a massive boon for the Big Bash and hopes it could help attract more international stars.
“It’s one of the biggest signings the Big Bash has had in years. We haven’t had that calibre for years now, but to get that quality into the Big Bash.
There’s a lot of conversation around the competition and how we get big superstars and test stars playing, and I think the competition can turn into a powerhouse. It’s probably not where it wants to be at the minute and I look forward to that changing over the next few years.”
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