Finn Allen in Perth Scorchers (R) & Ben Stokes (Source: AFP Photos)Just about 11 days ago, Ben Stokes became the costliest Big Bash League (BBL) signing ever when Adelaide Strikers secured his services for the upcoming edition of the competition. However, on Thursday, Finn Allen took the centre stage, with Melbourne Stars making him the most expensive BBL signing.Allen signed a three-year contract with Melbourne Stars, of which he will earn at least AU$600,000 in his first year. Ben Stokes, on the other hand, had reportedly signed for Adelaide Strikers for reportedly around AU$500,000 per season.Melbourne Stars Sign Allen As 12th Player For BBL 26/27Finn Allen became the 12th player for Melbourne Stars to feature in BBL 2026/27. He will be joined by Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Peter Siddle, among others.Allen was in action during the Major League Cricket (MLC), playing for San Francisco Unicorns in the previous two editions. Cricket Victoria's high performance department, which also runs Melbourne Stars, operates the MLC team.Also Read: Mitchell Santner Rejects BBL Offer, Reveals India Link Behind DecisionMore significantly, Cameron White, who works as San Francisco Unicorns coach, is also the head coach of Melbourne Stars head coach. This year, he joined the Stars, a franchise for which he was previously player for.“The Stars are a powerhouse team in this competition, so it’s going to be a lot of fun playing for them. They’ve already got a huge fanbase and they’re only getting bigger, and I can’t wait to be a part of that,” Finn Allen said in a statement, issued by Melbourne Stars.“I think all cricketers love playing at the MCG, so to be able to call that my home ground now is really exciting,” he added.How Finn Allen Became The Most Expensive BBL SigningAllen has been in spectacular form since the start of 2026. He made a century for Perth Scorchers, his previous BBL team, earlier this year.After that, playing for New Zealand, the swashbuckling opener notched up a century in just 33 balls. In the process, he etched his name to the history books with the fastest T20 World Cup century of all time.Therefore, it was obvious that Allen, now 27 years old, was the most sought after player available for the upcoming BBL edition.How Did Allen Play For KKR In IPL 2026?During the last IPL auction, KKR hit a jackpot by signing Finn Allen for only INR 2 crore. It ended up becoming a massive profit for the three-time champions, as Allen struck at 214.11 while tallying 349 across 11 outings.Allen’s heroics included a 47-ball 100 against Delhi Capitals and 35-ball 93 against Gujarat Titans.In another important angle, Allen does not play Tests for New Zealand. The BBL 2026/27 will collide with Australia vs New Zealand Tests, and thus, there won’t be any issue regarding his availability despite country’s one of the most important assignments.Notably, Melbourne Stars can still sign six more players for BBL 2026/27.Melbourne Stars Squad For BBL 26/27 (So Far)Finn Allen, Austin Anlezark, Hilton Cartwright, Sam Harper, Liam Hatcher, Campbell Kellaway, Glenn Maxwell, Todd Murphy, Tom Rogers, Peter Siddle, Marcus Stoinis, Mitch SwepsonAlso Read: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Achieves What Sourav Ganguly And MS Dhoni Couldn't In Duleep Trophy
