Kevin Pietersen agrees to return to Melbourne Stars

The Melbourne Stars have been boosted ahead of their Friday night BBL05 semi-final with superstar English batsman Kevin Pietersen signing on for another two seasons.

The Stars are delighted that Pietersen will remain in green until the end of 2017-18 along with big-hitting opener Luke Wright.

The 35-year-old Pietersen has scored 480 runs at an average of 36.92 and a strike rate of 130.79 with five half-centuries since joining the Stars last summer. He was joint winner of the Stars’ Player of the Year in BBL04 with John Hastings.

‘I really enjoy being around the club,’ Pietersen, who’s scored 187 runs in seven innings in BBL05, said.

‘I’ve developed great relationships with the boys and I’m excited about what the next couple of seasons will bring with the playing and coaching group we have together.’

Stars coach Stephen Fleming said locking down Pietersen and Wright in their international positions would bring consistency to the club.

‘Kevin has already made a considerable contribution to the team on and off the field, so to have him for another two seasons will allow us to continue to build and develop the squad with consistency,’ Fleming said.

‘KP wins games and the more game breakers you can have in your squad, the more chances you give your team of winning tournaments.’

The Stars host the Perth Scorchers at the MCG aiming to break their semi-final hoodoo. It will be the fourth time in five seasons the two sides have faced off for a spot in the Big Bash League decider.

Both teams have contested the finals in all five seasons of the Big Bash League with the Scorchers advancing to the previous four finals. The Stars other semi-final loss came against the Hobart Hurricanes – at the MCG – in BBL03.