Maxwell signs mega deal as BBL big guns come off contract

Glenn Maxwell has signed a massive four-year deal that could well keep him at the Melbourne Stars for the rest of his career amid a flurry of paperwork before the BBL's contracting embargo kicks in tonight.

More than 60 domestic Big Bash players come off contract at the end of KFC BBL|11 season, and some clubs have been keen to shore up their list ahead of a reset for BBL|12.

Chris Lynn, Peter Siddle, Riley Meredith, Shaun Marsh, Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe and Jason Sangha are among the biggest names now off contract.

With Maxwell's signature secured by the Stars, Lynn is perhaps the biggest name off-contract and his future at the Brisbane Heat is unclear.

It's understood there's no rush from either Lynn or the Heat to resolve that situation with both parties taking some breathing space after another disappointing season.

The Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers have already made public their moves to lock in key talent ahead of tonight's KFC BBL|11 final.

The Scorchers extended Ashton Agar's stay in Perth with a new three-year deal, while rising allrounder Aaron Hardie has earned a new two-year contract.

Kurtis Patterson has enjoyed a breakout season as a T20 player in Perth in the final year of his initial two-year deal, and the Scorchers may face serious competition to hold onto him, while Jhye Richardson is also off-contract.

The Sixers signed Hayden Kerr to a three-year deal fresh off his heroics in the Challenger final where his unbeaten 98 lifted the Sydney club into the decider.

But the two-time defending champions, who are bidding for an historic three-peat tonight, have just four other players confirmed to return next season.

Club captain Moises Henriques, Jordan Silk and veteran seamer Jackson Bird all have one more year on their current deals, while Ben Dwarshuis has another two years.

Stephen O'Keefe has signalled his intention to retire, but Dan Christian is expected to seek another deal. Josh Philippe this summer failed to hit the heights of previous BBL seasons but after making his international debut in both white-ball formats in 2021, will no doubt have plenty of suitors should he wish to test the market.

The Hobart Hurricanes – who last week saw head coach Adam Griffith depart – also have just five players locked into long-term deals: Nathan Ellis, Ben McDermott, Joel Paris, D'Arcy Short and Matthew Wade.

The absence of a head coach hasn't stopped Cricket Tasmania's high performance chief Simon Insley from making deals, with the Hurricanes understood have been active with up to five new contracts signed today before deadline.

Fast bowlers Riley Meredith and Ashes hero Scott Boland are among those seeking a new deal, while Tim David and Peter Handscomb are also off-contract.

The Sydney Thunder have eight players now off contract, including Jason Sangha who this summer enjoyed a breakout year in T20 cricket.

It's understood the club have not pushed through any new deals today, and are relaxed about their position with key personnel Usman Khawaja, Chris Green and Ollie Davies all locked in to return.

The Melbourne Renegades made headlines when they brutally axed fan favourite leg-spinner Cameron Boyce ahead of their final game this season, only for him to take four wickets in four balls and snare a slice of BBL history.

The club is understood to be working through their list with head coach David Saker promising changes after three seasons at the foot of the table following their title win in BBL|08.

The BBL enacts a contracting embargo period each year that formally kicks in with the first ball of the BBL final.

The length of the embargo can vary; last year, it was protracted for several months as league officials made a second attempt to introduce a draft for international talent, but that again fell through due to complications caused by the COVID pandemic.

At the time, James Faulkner was one to publicly hit out at the lengthy embargo period which he claimed affected his ability to negotiate terms with the Hobart Hurricanes.

It's believed league officials will again revisit plans for an international draft this winter, with a view to introducing it ahead of BBL|12. 

Clubs can make non-binding verbal arrangements with players during the embargo period, but cannot formally sign any contracts.

Maxwell, who will be 37 by the time his new deal with the Stars expires, set a new record with the BBL's top score in an extraordinary 154 not out from just 64 balls at the MCG against Hobart earlier this month, and the club captain said winning a BBL title was his main goal.

"I'm thrilled to commit to the Stars for another four seasons. I want to win a BBL title at the Stars and I believe we have the list to do that," said Maxwell, who played a Renegade in BBL|01 in 2011-12 before switching to the Stars the following summer.

"We've got a really close group with some of the best T20 players in the world and excellent support from the coaching team.

"The Stars have been part of my life for a decade and I'm already excited to see what we can achieve in BBL|12 and beyond."

Big Bash List Management

Domestic players only. All signed players have one more year unless specified

Adelaide Strikers

Signed: Wes Agar, Alex Carey (two), Harry Conway, Ryan Gibson, Harry Nielsen, Matthew Renshaw, Matt Short, Jake Weatherald (three)

Off-contract: Fawad Ahmed, Travis Head, Spencer Johnson, Liam O'Connor, Liam Scott, Peter Siddle, Jon Wells, Daniel Worrall

Brisbane Heat

Signed: Xavier Bartlett, James Bazley, Max Bryant, Sam Heazlett, Matt Kuhnemann, Michael Neser (two), Mitchell Swepson, Jack Wildermuth

Off-contract: Tom Cooper, Marnus Labuschagne, Chris Lynn, Jimmy Peirson, Mark Steketee, Connor Sully, Matthew Willans

Hobart Hurricanes

Signed: Nathan Ellis, Ben McDermott (two), Joel Paris, D'Arcy Short, Matt Wade (two)

Off-contract: Scott Boland, Tim David, Peter Handscomb, Caleb Jewell, Josh Kann, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Wil Parker, Tom Rogers, Mac Wright

Melbourne Renegades

Signed: Zak Evans, Aaron Finch, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sam Harper (two), Mackenzie Harvey, Nic Maddinson (two), James Pattinson, Kane Richardson (three)

Off-contract: Cameron Boyce (delisted), Marcus Harris, Josh Lalor, Shaun Marsh, Mitch Perry, Jack Prestwidge, Will Sutherland

Melbourne Stars

Signed: Joe Burns (two), Hilton Cartwight (two), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Liam Hatcher, Clint Hinchliffe, Nick Larkin (two), Glenn Maxwell (four), Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis (two), Beau Webster (two), Adam Zampa

Off-contract: Sam Elliott, Seb Gotch, Tom O'Conell, Sam Rainbird

Perth Scorchers

Signed: Ashton Agar (three), Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Aaron Hardie (two), Peter Hatzoglou, Josh Inglis (two), Matt Kelly, Mitch Marsh (three), Lance Morris, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye

Off-contract: Kurtis Patterson, Jhye Richardson, Nick Hobson, Cooper Connolly

Sydney Sixers

Signed: Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Ben Dwarshuis (two), Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr (three), Nathan Lyon, Jordan Silk

Off-contract: Dan Christian, Jack Edwards, Mickey Edwards, Ben Manenti, Stephen O'Keefe, Josh Philippe, Lloyd Pope

Sydney Thunder

Signed: Oliver Davies (two), Brendan Doggett, Matt Gilkes, Chris Green (two), Baxter Holt, Usman Khawaja, Daniel Sams

Off-contract: Jono Cook, Ben Cutting, Nathan McAndrew, Alex Ross, Gurinder Sandhu, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, Chris Tremain