Thunder-Boult strikes Sydney as Kiwi quick commits to BBL

Sydney Thunder have bolstered their Kiwi-led pace attack with the signing of left-arm quick Trent Boult for KFC BBL|16.

Boult, who played eight games for Melbourne Stars in the 2022-23 season, has signed a one-year deal with full availability including finals.

The 37-year-old paceman is set to join fellow New Zealander Lockie Ferguson at the club this summer in a significant boost to their bowling stocks.

"I'm really excited to be playing in the Big Bash again and joining Lockie (Ferguson) at Thunder," Boult said in a statement.

"The way he gets involved is what I'm hoping to mirror and make a mark like he has, not just with the team but the fans as well.

"Cricket has given me so much over the years and I'm still at the stage where I love going out there, contributing, taking wickets and trying to be aggressive in the Powerplay."

Ex-England captain Andrew Flintoff was announced as the men's team's new head coach after the club parted ways with esteemed figure Trevor Bayliss in February.

The legendary allrounder, who has been tasked with returning last season's cellar dwellars to the BBL finals, said securing Boult alongside Ferguson poses a serious threat to batters across the league.

"Trent (Boult) has an amazing reputation for being a great bloke, a team player and a world-class performer," Flintoff said in a statement.

"Having a couple Kiwis in the team who have played a lot of cricket together over the years brings a level of familiarity and I think they complement each other really well as a right-arm and left-arm pairing.  

"One of the things we haven't been able to do in recent times is take wickets with the new ball, so hopefully these two can remedy that.”

Flintoff may have called time on international cricket prior to Boult's Black Caps debut in 2009, but that didn't stop the boy from NZ's Bay of Plenty region appreciating the work of his new Big Bash coach.

The pair will now work together in the hope of claiming a trophy neither man has secured across their decorated careers.

"Every cricketer idolised Freddie (Flintoff) as a kid (and) I was one of them," Boult said.

"I'm sure he wants to bring the group together, create a great culture, and work towards something special.  

"We're trying to achieve the top prize, and it will take small steps, but I'm looking forward to hopefully achieving something special with this club."

Boult stands as one of New Zealand's greatest bowlers with 601 wickets across Test cricket, one-day internationals and T20 internationals.

He sits fourth on the country's all-time wicket-takers lists in all three formats.

Since his retirement from international cricket following the 2024 T20 World Cup, Boult has continued plying his trade across the global T20 circuit.

In 2026 alone, the speedster has featured in the SA20, Indian Premier League, America's Major League Cricket tournament, the UK's Hundred competition and the European T20 Premier League.

New Zealand's former opening bowler is one of eight Kiwis who've signed for a Big Bash club for BBL|16.

Finn Allen (Melbourne Stars), Tim Seifert (Sydney Sixers), Mark Chapman (Adelaide Strikers), Michael Bracewell (Melbourne Renegades) and Ferguson have all shifted to casual contracts with New Zealand Cricket, allowing them to participate in the BBL this summer.

Brisbane Heat have also secured promising NZ batters Tim Robinson and Bevon Jacobs to their men's squad.

Sydney Thunder's BBL|16 squad (so far)

Contracted for BBL|16: Cameron Bancroft (BBL|17), Sam Billings (BBL|16), Trent Boult (BBL|16), Lockie Ferguson (BBL|16), Matt Gilkes (BBL|17), Chris Green (BBL|16), Ryan Hadley (BBL|17), Sam Konstas (BBL|18), Nic Maddinson (BBL|16), Aidan O'Connor (BBL|16), Daniel Sams (BBL|17), Tanveer Sangha (BBL|17), David Warner (BBL|16)

 

Uncontracted: Wes Agar, Charlie Anderson, Tom Andrews, Ravichandran Ashwin (India), Pat Cummins, Shadab Khan (Pakistan), Nathan McAndrew, Blake Nikitaras, Reece Topley (England), David Willey (England)

 

Head coach: Andrew Flintoff

England wicketkeeper Sam Billings is the other overseas player in the Thunder's BBL|16, having signed a three-year deal with the club in 2024. 

Flintoff still has five spots to fill on his primary list of players, with Big Bash clubs allocated a maximum of 18 players on their men's roster.