Melbourne Stars have landed their biggest fish yet with the signing of exiled England star Kevin Pietersen for the next two seasons.
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Cricket Australia will pay Pietersen a bonus believed to be less than $100,000 to promote the Big Bash League, money that will not be included in the salary cap.
Combined with his Stars contract he'll be the highest paid player in the BBL.
The Age revealed the stars were chasing Pietersen in February when Brad Hodge defected to Adelaide, freeing up salary cap space.
Pietersen is one of the most controversial and outspoken players in world cricket and most recently called for his former captain Alastair Cook to be axed from the England job.
Pietersen retired from international cricket this year when it became clear his negative influence in the dressing room outweighed his on-field performances.
The big-hitting top-order batsman is the biggest name to join the Stars since Shane Warne, but comes with more recent Test form to back him up, having been cast out English cricket only last February.
The batsman Australian fans loved to hate will suddenly have at least a portion of them in his corner, and he is excited by the prospect.
“I’m very excited about joining the Melbourne Stars and look forward to playing with some of Australia’s best T20 cricketers," Pietersen said. "Joining the Melbourne Stars was an easy choice for me when you look at the players we have and the amazing off-field support staff, and don’t forget our home ground, the MCG.”
Recently appointed Stars chairman of selectors Damien Fleming said Pietersen was an "awesome talent", a "proven world class cricketer across all forms of the game".
Pietersen will be part of what shapes as a potent batting line-up indeed, featuring David Hussey, Glenn Maxwell, fellow international signing Luke Wright and captain Cameron White.
White said the Stars could aspire to bigger returns this season with the former Test star in the line-up.
“We’re really looking forward to Kevin being part of our club," White said. "He’s a tremendous addition to the squad and will fit in really well, and he’ll hopefully provide us the edge to go deeper into the tournament this year.” The Stars playing roster for the 2014-15 season is now almost complete, with 13 players officially listed. Pietersen replaces Lasith Malinga as their second international player after Malinga was made unavailable for the BBL tournament due to his World Cup preparations.
