Former Test paceman Peter Siddle will play Big Bash League (BBL) cricket into his 40s after signing a one-year deal to join Melbourne Stars.
A 67-time Test player turned revered white-ball death bowler, Siddle completes the Stars' roster as they hunt a maiden title in the competition's 14th iteration.
Siddle celebrated his 40th birthday late last month, joining an elite club of players to play in the BBL past that milestone.
Former Melbourne Renegades teammates Shaun Marsh and Fawad Ahmed and the late Shane Warne are among others to have done the same.
Siddle was a foundation player at the Stars but international duties meant he never played a game for the club.
He has taken 10 wickets in five List A games for Victoria this summer, including a career-best haul of 5-49 against NSW in October.
"It’s great to come full circle and be back at the Stars after being one of the original signings," Siddle said.
"It’s always a privilege playing at the MCG and I’m really looking forward to helping out however I can with this group."
Siddle has played 83 Big Bash games to date, representing Adelaide Strikers for six summers between two stints with the Renegades.
The Victorian won the 2017/18 title with the Strikers and was the tournament's leading wicket-taker in the summer of 2021/2022.
He is all but assured of becoming the 11th player to take 100 BBL wickets this summer, currently sitting on 99 scalps at 21.38.
Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Scott Boland and Beau Webster are other high-profile local players on the Stars' roster this summer.
They will be joined by Ben Duckett, who was selected with the first pick of the overseas player draft, as well as the opener's English countrymen Tom Curran and Joe Clarke.
The BBL season begins on December 15, with Siddle's Stars facing Brisbane Heat in their first match on December 18.
