Adelaide Strikers have crowned their player list for BBL|14 with the world's top-ranked men's T20 batter Travis Head signing on for another year in blue.
A fan favourite with the Strikers faithful since he debuted as a 19-year-old in BBL|02, Head has established himself as a matchwinner with the bat across all international formats in recent years.
Crowned Player of the Match in Australia's World Test Championship and World Cup final triumphs in 2023, he sits atop the ICC's global T20 International batting rankings following recent campaigns in Scotland and England.
Head memorably led the Strikers to their inaugural BBL title win in 2017-18, finishing unbeaten on 44 (from 29 balls) and claiming the vital wicket of now-Strikers coach Tim Paine in the 25-run grand final triumph at Adelaide Oval.
And he provided one of the competition's all-time highlights with a 53-ball unbeaten century in the BBL|05 New Year's Eve match against Sydney Sixers at Adelaide Oval, sealing a famous win from the final delivery of the game with his ninth six.
"I'm thrilled to sign for another year with the Strikers and can't wait to get back amongst the group under our new coach Tim Paine," Head said.
"I love pulling on the blue every chance I get and look forward to helping the boys go one step further after their fantastic late season run to the finals last summer.
"There's no better crowd in the BBL than Strikers fans, and no place I'd rather play than in front of a full house at Adelaide Oval where the atmosphere is the equal of any cricket ground in the world."
Head's signing adds to the Strikers' top-order firepower alongside dual BBL Players of the Tournament Matt Short and D'Arcy Short, BBL|13 Team of the Tournament member Chris Lynn, internationals Alex Carey (Australia), Ollie Pope (England) and Fabian Allen (West Indies) plus all-time Strikers leading runs scorer Jake Weatherald.
The bowling attack is led by fellow BBL|13 Team of the Tournament members Jamie Overton (England) and Cameron Boyce with new signing Jordan Buckingham alongside Brendan Doggett, Henry Thornton and Lloyd Pope.
"We're thrilled to complete our list with a homegrown hero of Travis's calibre," Paine said.
"He's been in amazing form across every format in the past year or more, as we saw with his brilliant 154 not out off 129 balls in the ODI against England recently.
"We understand Trav has a hectic international schedule, but we also know how much he loves getting back in the blue whenever the chance arises and we look forward to our fans being treated to more of his magic this summer."
Adelaide Strikers' season begins against Sydney Thunder in Canberra on 17 December, before blockbuster Adelaide Oval home games against Melbourne Stars (December 20), Hobart Hurricanes (December 27), Perth Scorchers (New Year's Eve), Brisbane Heat (January 11) and Sydney Sixers (January 15).
Adelaide Strikers list BBL|14: Fabian Allen, James Bazley, Cameron Boyce, Jordan Buckingham, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Travis Head, Thomas Kelly, Chris Lynn, Harry Nielsen, Jamie Overton, Lloyd Pope, Ollie Pope, Alex Ross, D'Arcy Short, Matt Short, Henry Thornton, Jake Weatherald.
Strikers Memberships are now on sale with more information available at adelaidestrikers.com.au