The Melbourne Stars have secured the prized signature of Harry Brook as the England batter prepares for his first season in the Big Bash League.
Having missed out on Rashid Khan during Sunday's overseas player draft after making yet another audacious bid for the spin wizard, the Stars quickly turned their attention to Brook.
Despite Brook's limited availability for the 2023/24 season, the Stars will be counting on the 24-year-old bringing his Ashes form to Australia to lift their tournament fortunes.
He scored 363 runs during the series at an average of 40.22 to stamp himself as one of the most exciting young prospects in world cricket.
The Stars made their move for Brook after trying to lure No.1 pick Khan away from the Adelaide Strikers after employing a similar draft move in 2022.
But the Strikers activated their retention pick and the Afghanistan T20I skipper will line up for a seventh consecutive season with the side.
The Sydney Sixers used their retention right to stop the Hobart Hurricanes' attempt to take Tom Curran at pick three. The Hurricanes subsequently secured Chris Jordan.
South African wicket-keeper/batter Quinton de Kock will make his first appearance in the BBL after being selected by the Melbourne Renegades.
The Big Bash's leading overseas run scorer Alex Hales (Sydney Thunder) and Colin Munro (Brisbane Heat) were also taken in the opening round.
Meanwhile, Sydney Thunder have claimed South African Marizanne Kapp as the No.1 pick in the inaugural WBBL overseas player draft.
Arguably the leading allrounder in the game, Kapp has spent the past two seasons with the Perth Scorchers.
Despite the best efforts of the Melbourne Renegades to secure New Zealand big hitter Sophie Devine, the Scorchers elected to retain their superstar captain.
The Renegades were able to hold onto Hayley Matthews with their pick, while cross-town rivals the Melbourne Stars elected to have their star allrounder Alice Capsey return for another season.
South Africa fast bowler Shabnim Ismail is headed to the Hobart Hurricanes while New Zealand international Amelia Kerr will remain with the Brisbane Heat.
Spinning allrounder Chloe Tryon was picked up by the Sydney Sixers to complete the first round, with the Strikers opting to pass.
