Sydney Thunder have signed New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult for the entire KFC BBL|16 season, including finals, Cricket NSW announced on Thursday, October 15.
Boult will wear the number 18 for Thunder and joins fellow New Zealand quick Lockie Ferguson in head coach Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff's squad, with both bowlers contracted for the full campaign.
"I'm really excited to be playing in the Big Bash again and joining Lockie at Thunder," Boult said.
The 37-year-old made his Big Bash debut with the Melbourne Stars in BBL|12, the 2022-23 season, and has taken 372 wickets in 325 games for New Zealand and across the world's leading T20 competitions, including the Big Bash, the IPL, The Hundred and the SA20. He has won five titles across those tournaments.
Boult holds the IPL record for most first-over wickets, with 31. He recently took 16 wickets in 10 matches for the Edinburgh Castle Rockers in the inaugural European T20 Premier League, including best figures of 5-24.
"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.
He said he rated Thunder's chances this season.
"With this Thunder team, why not go all the way? It's a well-balanced squad with some great players and a lot of experience," Boult said.
Flintoff said the signing filled a gap in his attack.
"Trent has an amazing reputation for being a great bloke, a team player and a world-class performer," Flintoff said.
"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," he said, referring to Boult and Ferguson.
Thunder's contracted BBL|16 squad also includes Cameron Bancroft, Sam Billings, Chris Green, Ryan Hadley, Sam Konstas, Matthew Gilkes, Nic Maddinson, Aidan O'Connor, Daniel Sams, Tanveer Sangha and David Warner.
Thunder's home schedule includes matches against Adelaide Strikers at Manuka on December 16, Sydney Sixers at ENGIE Stadium on December 19, Melbourne Renegades at ENGIE Stadium on December 27, Perth Scorchers at ENGIE Stadium on January 2 and Melbourne Stars at Manuka on January 11.