Sydney Thunder have roped in New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult ahead of the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) 2026-27 season. The veteran pacer has inked a one-year deal, making himself available in the entirety of the tournament. However, there could be a scheduling issue for Boult, with the BBL overlapping with the SA20.
Boult is expected to represent MI Cape Town, who will begin their SA20 campaign on January 20. The SA20 will get underway on January 17, while the BBL will end on January 26.
“I'm really excited to be playing in the Big Bash again and joining Lockie at Thunder. 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 with 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,” Boult said in a Thunder release.
Notably, if Sydney Thunder qualify for the BBL finals, then it will be difficult for Boult to link up with MI Cape Town in time for the start of their SA20 campaign. Meanwhile, Sydney Thunder head coach Andrew Flintoff lauded Boult’s signing.
“Trent has an amazing reputation for being a great bloke, a team player, and a world-class performer. 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 said.