Sydney Thunder have signed up New Zealand quick Trent Boult for the entire BBL 2026-27 season, including for the finals. Boult has signed a one-year deal with Thunder.

That will, however, lead to a minor calendar clash for Boult, especially if Thunder make the finals. The BBL is scheduled to end on January 26 and the SA20 is scheduled to begin on January 17 in South Africa. Boult is set to turn out for MICT again, who start their SA20 campaign on January 20. The only way Boult will avoid an overlap is if Thunder don't make the finals and finish the league stage on January 17 in Brisbane, and Boult rushes to South Africa to make it in time.

Boult, who has played only one season of the BBL so far with Melbourne Stars in 2022-23, joins fellow New Zealand quick Lockie Ferguson at Thunder.

"I'm really excited to be playing in the Big Bash again and joining Lockie at Thunder," Boult said in a Thunder release. "The way he gets involved is what I'm hoping to mirror and make a mark like he has - not just with the team but [with] the fans as well.

"Cricket has given me so much over the years, and I'm still at the stage where I love going out there, contributing, taking wickets, and trying to be aggressive in the powerplay."

In June, Thunder had appointed former England allrounder Andrew Flintoff as their head coach. Flintoff replaced Trevor Bayliss in the role after Thunder finished last in 2023-24 and 2025-26.

On the signing of Boult, Flintoff said: "Trent has an amazing reputation for being a great bloke, a team player, and a world-class performer.

"Having a couple Kiwis in the team who have played a lot of cricket together over the years brings a level of familiarity, and I think they complement each other really well as a right-arm and left-arm pairing. One of the things we haven't been able to do in recent times is take wickets with the new ball, so hopefully these two can remedy that."

Boult said he was looking forward to achieve something special with Thunder and work with Flintoff.

"Every cricketer idolised Freddie (Flintoff) as a kid (and) I was one of them," Boult was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. "I'm sure he wants to bring the group together, create a great culture, and work towards something special.

"We're trying to achieve the top prize, and it will take small steps, but I'm looking forward to hopefully achieving something special with this club."

Boult most recently played in the inaugural edition of the ETPL, where he was the second-highest wicket-taker for champions Edinburgh Castle Rockers with 16 wickets at an economy rate of 6.63. That included bagging a career-best 5 for 24 against Glasgow Cosmic.

Thunder start their BBL 2026-27 campaign by playing Adelaide Strikers in Canberra on December 16.

Bangladesh legspinner Rishad Hossain will be representing Hobart Hurricanes for the second season in a row after also playing for them them in 2025-26. Rishad, who got 15 wickets in 12 matches for Hurricanes last season, will be available for the first eight matches this time.

"He was outstanding for us last season. To come into the Big Bash for the first time, play every game and finish as our leading wicket-taker showed the quality he has and how quickly he adapted to Australian conditions," Hurricanes general manager Salliann Beams said.

Rishad, 24, will team up with fellow legspinner Adam Zampa at Hurricanes, who last the Challenger to Sydney Sixers last season. After his first stint with Hurricanes last year, Rishad played for Rawalpindiz in PSL 2026. But he got just two wickets across 14 overs in four games.