Handscomb pens two-year deal with Stars

Test hopeful Peter Handscomb has recommitted to the Melbourne Stars on a two-year deal ahead of this summer's KFC Big Bash League.

Handscomb, who has played for Australia in Tests and ODIs in recent years, adds considerable experience and stability to the Stars' batting line-up, which has lost English mainstays Luke Wright and Kevin Pietersen.

A foundation Star, Handscomb has played 30 matches in green and has 453 runs to his name, including a memorable 103no against the Perth Scorchers in BBL|04.

"I'm really happy to re-sign with the Stars," Handscomb said. "I have a lot of friends here and to get to play with the likes of (Marcus) Stoinis, (Scott) Boland and (Adam) Zampa again is something that excites me.

"We're a pretty close group and there are a few of us that have played together for the last three or four years, so we've gotten to know each other quite well both on and off the field.

"We also have some new faces at the club and we're really looking forward to welcoming them to the Stars family."

Stars List Manager Trent Woodhill said securing Handscomb strengthens the team's batting line-up.

"It was a major focus for us to lock in Pete along with Marcus Stoinis," Woodhill said. "These two guys along with Glenn Maxwell, Nic Maddinson and Ben Dunk will provide us with a strong batting spine that features an array of quality local batters.

"We think that Pete is someone who can dominate this tournament, as seen by his century against the Scorchers, and from the recent JLT Cup, we know that he is in good white-ball form.

"We also know that Pete has strong leadership skills – he's proven himself as a leader not just at the Stars but in his role as captain of Victoria."

The Stars open their BBL|08 campaign against Sydney Thunder on December 21, and will host their first home match on January 1 with a blockbuster New Year's Day Derby at the MCG.

Melbourne Stars squad to date: Michael Beer, Scott Boland, Jackson Coleman, Travis Dean, Ben Dunk, Seb Gotch, Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal), Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Parkinson (England, *international replacement), Marcus Stoinis, Daniel Worrall, Adam Zampa