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Head signs monster deal at Strikers

Star Adelaide batsman and captain commits to another four years with the defending Big Bash League champions

Adelaide Strikers captain Travis Head has committed long term to the KFC Big Bash League club, signing a four-year deal.

Head, who led the Strikers to their inaugural championship in his first year as men’s captain last season, will be joined in the squad for BBL|08 by allrounder Cameron Valente.

"It's exciting news that I get the opportunity to play for another four years at Adelaide Oval and in the blue,” said 24-year-old Head, the club’s all-time leading run-scorer.

"It's an amazing time of the year, playing in front of my friends and family and Christmas time, for me it's always a great time to be around and 50,000 at Adelaide Oval, it's hard to go by."

Captain Head lights the way for the Strikers

Head, named player of the match with 85 not out in the last-ball semi-final win against the Melbourne Renegades and also a key contributor in the final against the Hobart Hurricanes, finished the season with 374 runs for a total of 988 since signing with the Strikers as a 20-year-old in 2014.

He became the first Striker to make a century on New Year’s Eve in 2015, smashing 101 not out from 53 balls to lead the team to an exciting win over the Sydney Sixers.

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Valente is the second new squad member for BBL|08, joining former Melbourne Renegades allrounder Matt Short.

Jono Dean, who played 22 BBL games for the Strikers including last season’s final, and Daniel Drew were not offered contracts.

Valente, 24, will aim for a Big Bash debut for the club in his home state following stints with the Perth Scorchers and Brisbane Heat over the past two seasons.

The right-arm allrounder has become a reliable one-day player for the West End Redbacks since his debut in the 2016 JLT One-Day Cup, when he was the competition’s leading wicket-taker with 15 wickets at an average of 16.73.

He also scored his maiden List A century against Victoria that season, which helped earn him the accolade of South Australia’s one-day player of the year.

Strikers Head Coach Jason Gillespie is pleased to retain the majority of his championship side and welcomed the addition of Valente.

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“To have our home-town captain Travis Head re-commit on a long-term deal is fantastic for the club and this state,” Gillespie said.

“And Cameron Valente joins us as a genuine allrounder who is handy at the death and also a fine striker of the ball.

“We are excited for Cam and believe that he rounds out our squad nicely and gives it considerable strength for the upcoming season.”

The defending champions begin their campaign against the Brisbane Heat at the Gabba on Wednesday, 19 December, before their first game at Adelaide Oval against the Melbourne Renegades on Sunday, 23 December.

Adelaide Strikers squad:  Travis Head (c), Wes Agar, Alex Carey (wk), Michael Cormack, David Grant, Colin Ingram (OS), Rashid Khan (OS), Ben Laughlin, Jake Lehmann, Michael Neser, Liam O’Connor, Matt Short, Peter Siddle, Billy Stanlake, Cameron Valente, Jake Weatherald, Jon Wells, Nick Winter

In: Matt Short (Renegades), Cameron Valente (Heat)

Unsigned from BBL|07: Jono Dean, Daniel Drew

Roster spots to fill: none

Internationals signed: two