Boland returns home to Melbourne Stars in BBL

Australia fast bowler Scott Boland will return to his original BBL club Melbourne Stars, having not played in the competition last season following two years with Hobart Hurricanes. He has signed a three-year deal with Stars.

Elsewhere, Matthew Kuhnemann, who played three Tests for Australia on the recent tour of India, has re-signed with Brisbane Heat on a three-year deal, turning his back on interest from other clubs.

Boland became a cult hero in Melbourne following his MCG heroics on Test debut in December 2021 when he took 6 for 7 against England to claim Player-of-the-Match honours.

But while he had been a mainstay in Victoria's first-class attack for a decade and pushed himself into the Test ranks, he had not been a regular in Stars' line-up during his six seasons between 2013-14 and 2018-19, playing just 31 matches. He moved to Hobart Hurricanes in 2019-20 and played 26 matches over two seasons but did not play at all last summer as he played in three of Australia's five home Tests.

Stars took the opportunity to offer him a deal to return to the BBL.

"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. "The Stars have the best fans in the league and hopefully I can be a part of some success and that elusive first BBL title."

Stars are also likely to add Boland's recent Hurricanes team-mate and Western Australia left-arm swing bowler Joel Paris to their list for the coming season while it is understood Nathan Coulter-Nile has also re-signed for another year.

Meanwhile, Heat were pleased to re-sign Kuhnemann long-term after he was courted by several clubs following his outstanding BBL last season where his 16 wickets and economy rate of 7.57 were a key part of Heat's run to the final.

"Matthew was a key retention priority following our efforts last summer and his signing is a massive boost for the club," coach Wade Seccombe said. "We fully expect him to continue to push for higher honours in the future and look forward to working with him to help him reach those heights again."

Kuhnemann is currently recovering from a stress fracture in his back that cut short his county championship stint with Durham, but he is expected to be fully fit for the Australian summer.