Australia sensation Scott Boland has signed a three-year contract with the Melbourne Stars as the Big Bash League fights to showcase the best local talent at the height of the Test summer.
Boland has inked a full contract with the BBL, meaning he is not subject to restrictions imposed on big-name locals signed as part of the league's new supplementary-list system.
The Victorian has become best known for his economical spells in the Test side, famously snaring 6-7 in the second innings of his debut in the format during the home Ashes two summers ago.
Prior to that he was a Big Bash regular, first for the Stars for six summers and then with the Hobart Hurricanes from the summer of 2019/20.
"I can't wait to be a part of the Big Bash again and it's great to be back at home with the Melbourne Stars in front of family and friends at the MCG," Boland said.
"Hopefully I can be a part of some success and that elusive first BBL title."
The BBL has long faced criticism that the majority of Australia's Test team is tied up with international duties during the tournament.
A change to the contracting system for the upcoming summer hopes to solve that issue.
Players who hold central Cricket Australia contracts, such as Steve Smith and Pat Cummins, can join the supplementary list and play a limited number of BBL games.
Those players must receive a $30,000 match fee per game and have their availability approved by the Big Bash's technical committee - making anything more than a cameo unlikely.
Each BBL franchise can sign up to two supplementary players, who are allocated a flat fee that is funnelled back into the salary cap if their international commitments prevent them playing.
This allows them to appear in marketing for the team and aims to avoid the contracting circus that foiled Steve Smith's return to the tournament two summers ago.
Signing Boland to a full contract indicates the Stars are confident he will be available for extensive game time, particularly in the second and third summers of his deal when there are set to be fewer clashes between the BBL and Test calendars.
Boland's availability would be a boon for a Stars outfit still hunting their first BBL title after missing out on finals for the past three summers.
Stars general manager Blair Crouch hailed Boland's return to the side.
"I can't remember a player bursting onto the scene and being loved by the MCG crowd as much as Scott Boland since Shane Warne," he said.
