Ben Stokes is possibly eyeing a BBL return after a decade, with the Sydney Sixers favourite to snap up the England all-rounder. According to reports from Australia, Cricket Australia officials are growing increasingly optimistic that Stokes will play in the BBL season following his retirement from Test cricket. Stokes retired from Test cricket in late June, concluding one of the most successful careers for England in the red ball. His retirement also cleared up his calendar for him to look at franchise cricket possibilities internationally. If there are a few leagues that are probably going to call, the BBL is most likely the strongest contender for the ex-England skipper. The 35-year-old last appeared in the Big Bash League over ten years ago when he played for Melbourne Renegades. International responsibilities and workload management have prevented him from featuring in Australia's premier T20 competition ever since. Now with international duties out of the way, it seems likely he will make a comeback to the BBL. Sydney Sixers Move Ahead in Race to Sign Ben Stokes Reports indicate that Sydney Sixers are now the frontrunners for Stokes. The huge factor working in their favour is the addition of former England white-ball coach Matthew Mott as their new head coach. Mott collaborated with Stokes in England's triumphant T20 World Cup run in 2022. It is thought that their close connection is another crucial aspect that could influence the all-rounder's plans if he elects to participate. While the signings of players have been kept on hold as negotiations continue between CA and the ACA over the new franchise rules, the franchises are not resting on their laurels and are preparing for the end of the freeze. The end of the overseas player draft has also altered the recruitment of overseas players. With the draft, BBL clubs may not directly sign marquee names, but under the new system, direct negotiations are still possible. It is believed that high-class players from overseas may be offered deals of over the $300,000 mark, thus making the BBL even more enticing. An inclusion of someone of Stokes' stature for the Sydney Sixers would be more than just a boost to their team, bringing one of the world's heavyweights in cricket to Australia. Also Read | Why Ben Stokes Won't Be Allowed to Play IPL 2027 Despite International Retirement Hobart Hurricanes Also Keen on England All-Rounder While the Sydney Sixers were seen as the most likely destination, they are not the only franchise fronting a bid for Stokes. The Hobart Hurricanes have made no secret of their desire to bring the England international to Tasmania. Cricket Tasmania CEO Dom Baker, speaking in general terms, conceded that the club would try everything possible to secure the services of Stokes, should the opportunity arise. Baker said: "I think probably the key to our success has been our consistency, particularly with our overseas players, and we'll look to be consistent again. But if the opportunity comes up to grab someone like Ben Stokes, particularly from a way to fill stadiums, we'll be at the front of the queue having a crack." He added: "Whether he will play or not, I think, is still up in the air. With announcements of Bazball finally coming to an end, I think there's probably a lot of soul-searching going on over there at the minute, so let's see what happens. He'd be very welcome here; what better place to be if you want to download after a couple of years as the English cricket captain." Baker's comments show how important a player like Stokes would be, not just for his cricketing skills, but for the good public figure he has become. A player of his stature would greatly help sell tickets and draw the eyes of the world to the tournament. Except for Stokes, a host of overseas stars look likely to be in demand for the next BBL season. New Zealand trio Finn Allen, Tim Seifert and Lockie Ferguson have all already been approached by franchises while England fast bowler Jamie Overton has also been high on the wish list of multiple sides. Also Read | Can Sam Curran Fill Ben Stokes' Void? England All-Rounder Breaks Silence on Test Return BBL Return Could be Perfect Next Step for Stokes Stokes signing for a BBL franchise will be one of the biggest overseas signings in the recent history of the tournament. He may be out of international Test cricket, but the all-rounder is still one of the biggest names in world cricket and still one of the best match winners in T20 cricket. The BBL would have also provided Stokes with a chance to play some serious cricket without the burden he would have had to bear as England's captain in Test matches. Following a long period of captaincy and injury management, a franchise competition might have been the perfect middle ground. This, however, has not gone unnoticed. An imminent switch to Australia has led to debates over future English plans. Rumours have begun circulating of players in the English setup craving Stokes to be reinstated in some way, head-on, with big series coming up back-to-back. 'Part of the off-season in Australia rather than having a proper break (provided he was fit to do so) could be viewed as a workload issue. Besides, for the time being, Stokes seems to be determined to enjoy the next chapter of his career. His retirement has led to opportunities in franchise cricket, and the Big Bash League could potentially be his first choice. Sydney Sixers is widely considered the favourite due to Mott's involvement, but the competition is likely to continue until a contract is inked. Hobart Hurricanes and other franchises are likely to be in the mix as well, so Stokes will certainly be one of the biggest names coming into the season. Should the deal happen, then Australian spectators might soon witness one of England's finest all-rounders return to the Big Bash League for the first time in nearly 11 years, providing yet another high-profile draw for the season.