“he [Stokes] “It gives us a lot of flexibility,” Payne told reporters. “I think initially my conversations about how he will be used will probably be as an opening batsman. I think he’s ready to open the batting in the Big Bash. I think the fast and hopping wickets in Australia really suit him.”
“I’ve been at the end of a couple of those devastating innings in Test cricket where you feel like you can’t defend the pitch. He can play 360 degrees [degrees]. He’s got power. He’s got some real class.”
“I think he can do a great job opening the bat,” Payne said. “He plays very naturally, as we’ve seen in the past, he can hit the switch and he’s got amazing power. His skill level with the bat and his spin game, he’s just a good, world-class batsman. We think this is probably what’s best for him and for us.”
“Then with the ball, we think he can surprise people. I played against him. He’s a little faster than people think. He’s got great skill. He can swing the ball both ways. We feel we can use him in all phases of the ball game as well. He’ll make an impact on the field with his athleticism and the way he competes.”
Stokes’ arrival will also provide a broader boost to the BBL at a time when the future structure of the competition remains uncertain amid the privatization debate.
“He’s someone who always attracts a lot of attention because of his personality and the way he plays the game,” Payne said. “I think we’ve seen in the last 24 hours how much spotlight he has put on the Big Bash once it’s announced. I’m sure that will only be amplified when he gets to Adelaide and when he starts playing well and scoring runs and taking wickets.
“We’ve been working on the roster strategy for the last two years and then we discovered a couple of weeks ago that you don’t have to sign foreign players and you can just do what you want.”
Tim Paine talks about the delay in reaching an agreement on the new structure
“I think there are some intangibles with Stokesy as well, around his leadership, his presence, his business and fan interaction. So there aren’t too many players in the world that I wouldn’t have thought of who tick all those boxes and still be at a really high level as a cricketer. So, yeah, we made that decision very quickly and we chased it very aggressively.”
Stokes is one of the first players to join through the direct signings model that replaced the draft and Payne confirmed the Strikers will bring in two more overseas names. While he supports the new structure and the freedom it gives to build rosters, Payne expressed frustration at the time it took to reach an agreement and the opportunity not to sign players from abroad.
“I’m sure I speak for a lot of people who are really frustrated with the time it takes to give them these rules and then change the rules completely,” he said. “We’ve been following a roster strategy for the last two years and then we discovered a couple of weeks ago that you don’t have to sign foreign players and you can just do what you want.
“It’s frustrating. Hopefully now it’s settled, things are closed and we get some consistent rules over the next few years.”
