Scorchers turn to exiled England opener to replace NZ gun Allen

Perth Scorchers have found a replacement for New Zealand power-hitter Finn Allen with dashing England opener Zak Crawley to join the club for KFC BBL|16.

Crawley, who played six games for the Scorchers during the 2023-24 season, has signed a one-year deal with full availability including finals.

The move comes after Allen was poached by Melbourne Stars earlier this month on a mammoth three-year deal understood to be worth more than half-a-million dollars in its first season.

The Kiwi blaster produced a tournament-leading 466 runs to help the Scorchers claim an unprecedented sixth men's title last season, but the right-hander opted against a return to Perth after the club couldn't match the Stars' lucrative offer.

Following Allen's departure, Scorchers general manager Kade Harvey said securing Crawley was vital to keeping the team's formidable batting line-up firing.

"Our top order was critical to our success in BBL|15 and it's exciting to add Zak (Crawley) into the mix alongside the likes of Mitch Marsh, Cooper Connolly and Aaron Hardie," Harvey said today in a statement.

"Zak made a terrific impression during his time with the club in BBL|13 and we have no doubt he will become a favourite among our members and fans."

Crawley made his Big Bash debut in 2022 when first recruited by Hobart Hurricanes, catching the attention of former Australian captain and the club's head of strategy, Ricky Ponting.

He played eight games with the Hurricanes in the 2022-23 season before the Scorchers picked him up in the now shelved overseas player draft.

The right-hander scored 155 runs across six innings in BBL|13, including an unbeaten 65 against his former BBL team at Optus Stadium.

Crawley said he was thrilled to be returning to Western Australia and had fond memories of 'The Furnace'.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Perth in BBL|13 and got an appreciation for how well respected the Scorchers are across the competition," Crawley said.

"Optus Stadium is a wonderful place to play cricket and I'm looking forward to the opportunity of playing in front of our loyal members and fans."

The enigmatic stroke-maker has amassed 3586 runs at Test level, producing the second-highest maiden century (267) of all-time by an England batter in Test cricket against Pakistan in 2020.

The 28-year-old had represented England in 64 Test matches before he was axed from their squad following the team's disastrous Ashes tour last summer, where he averaged 27.30 for the campaign.

Crawley's dominant 189 during the fourth Test of the 2023 Ashes in Manchester proved what he was capable of, but he managed just one more Test hundred in his last 48 innings before being dropped.

Perth's new recruit recently teamed up with Australia T20I captain and Scorchers stalwart Mitch Marsh in ECB's franchise Hundred tournament, helping Sunrisers Leeds reach the Eliminator final.

The Kent product also featured in this year's T20 Blast, producing 259 runs in 12 games for his county. Crawley has played nine ODIs for England, the most recent in Sri Lanka in January this year, but is uncapped in T20 internationals.

He is the second English player to sign with the Scorchers for BBL|16, joining leg-spinner Calvin Harrison in Adam Voges' squad.

Talented Western Australian allrounder Will Malajczuk has also signed, while Australian wicketkeeper Josh Inglis remains a free agent after his contract expired at the end of last season.

Perth Scorchers BBL|16 squad (so far)

Contracted for BBL|16: Ashton Agar (contracted until BBL|17), Mahli Beardman (BBL|16), Cooper Connolly (BBL|16), Zak Crawley (BBL|16), Aaron Hardie (BBL|17), Calvin Harrison (BBL|16), Mitch Marsh (BBL|17), Will Malajczuk (BBL|16), Lance Morris (BBL|16), Joel Paris (BBL|16), Jhye Richardson (BBL|16), Ashton Turner (BBL|18)

 

Uncontracted: Brody Couch, Joel Curtis, Laurie Evans (England), Sam Fanning, Nick Hobson, Luke Holt, Josh Inglis, Bryce Jackson, David Payne (England), Corey Rocchiccioli

 

Head coach: Adam Voges