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Strikers sign Lehmann for BBL|05

'Boof Jr' added to Strikers' batting ranks while the addition of West Indies' Stacy-Ann Kings boosts the WBBL side

Adelaide Strikers have strengthened their batting stocks for the upcoming KFC Big Bash League season, signing promising young batsman Jake Lehmann.

Lehmann, the son of Australia head coach Darren, has signed on for BBL|05 after impressive performances for the West End Redbacks in both the Matador BBQs One-Day Cup and Sheffield Shield, including his maiden first-class ton – a stunning 205 off 242 balls against Tasmania late last month.

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It followed a half-century against Victoria in the Matador Cup and scores of 74 and 86 in a Toyota Futures League match for South Australia.

"I’m stoked. It’s all happened quite quickly so it probably still hasn’t sunk in completely but I’m excited to be involved,” Lehmann, 23, said.

"I’ve just gone about my cricket this year and tried to focus on one match at a time, but to get this recognition with the Strikers and the opportunity to make my BBL debut is really exciting.”

Watch: Lehmann Jr's double ton

The Strikers are still on the hunt for a second international marquee signing for BBL|05 after star West Indies recruit Kieron Pollard was ruled out for the season after picking up a knee injury playing in South Africa's T20 competition late last month.

Pollard's injury soured the news the Strikers had recruited emerging England leg-spinner Adil Rashid.

Gigantic Queensland fast bowler Billy Stanlake and young batsman Kelvin Smith are other new additions to the Strikers’ line-up for BBL|05.

Stanlake, standing at a dizzying 204cm, is the tallest bowler on the domestic circuit and impressed in his debut season for the myFoot Dr Queensland Bulls in the Matador Cup this month.

Meanwhile, the Strikers’ have added a dash of international firepower to their WBBL squad, unveiling West Indies allrounder Stacy-Ann King as their latest recruit.

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The left-arm batter, who also bowls handy medium pace, has played 61 one-dayers and 67 Twenty20s for her country, including a Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final against Australia last year.

With a T20 high score of 81, King is the Strikers’ third international signing alongside New Zealand’s Sophie Devine and England’s Sarah Taylor.

"I’ve never seen anyone hit the ball so hard, so she’s going to be an excitement machine," Strikers coach Andrea McCauley said.

Impressive local spinners Amanda Wellington and Hannah Perry, all-rounder Tahlia McGrath and medium-pace bowler Samantha Betts have also joined the Strikers’ ranks for WBBL|01.

The Adelaide Strikers begin their Rebel WBBL campaign on Saturday, December 12 against the Hobart Hurricanes in Launceston.