Glenn Maxwell has agreed a fresh two-season deal with Melbourne Stars, ensuring the veteran all-rounder will stay in green past his 39th birthday. The announcement dropped only hours before the league’s contracting embargo kicks in at 5pm AEDT on Tuesday.
Maxwell sits third on the all-time Big Bash run-scorers list, but his most recent campaign was lean – 76 runs from eight knocks, plus two wickets. Despite whisperings of richer offers elsewhere, he has chosen to stick with the one club still chasing a maiden title. The Stars bowed out at the Knockout stage this summer and remain the only side yet to lift the trophy.
“The Melbourne Stars have been a massive part of my cricket career and I’m really passionate about this team having success,” Maxwell said. “I think this current group is building towards something special and I’m confident we’re in a place to contend for the title in the next two seasons.”
Clint McKay, the organisation’s high-performance boss, welcomed the commitment. “Glenn has obviously been one of the best T20 players in the world for a long period of time and his commitment to the Stars is really valuable to us.”
While Maxwell grabs the headline, the club has also locked away promising left-hander Campbell Kellaway for the same period. Kellaway managed 172 runs at 21.50 in his first full campaign, generally operating in the top order and showing a calm head in tricky chases.
“Signing Campbell was just as important as he adds some great stability to our top order,” McKay said. “He proved himself at the level this season and I’ve got no doubt he will make a lot of runs for us for many years to come.”
For the rest of the competition, attention now turns to the short player-movement window running from 28 January to 5 February, when off-contract cricketers can be poached or traded before lists settle. The Stars, at least, have tied down two pieces of their puzzle – a seasoned match-winner and a batter still learning the ropes – as they look to shake off that “never won it” tag.
