Trent Boult taken as second pick in the BBL Draft by the Melbourne Stars

Black Caps star Trent Boult has been selected by the Melbourne Stars as the second pick of the inaugural Big Bash League international draft.

Boult became available to play in the high-profile domestic Australian Twenty20 competition for the first time after being released earlier this month from his New Zealand Cricket contract.

As one of 12 platinum players eligible to be picked in the first round, the left-arm quick bowler picks up a contract worth NZ$380,000 (A$340,000).

Boult however is only available to play in half of the season as he will play in the UAE’s new International League T20 (ILT20) competition for the Mumbai Indians-owned MI Emirates team in early January.

England’s Liam Livingston was the first pick of the draft by the Melbourne Renegades.

The Stars originally selected legspinner Rashid Khan but had to make a different pick after the Adelaide Strikers exercised their option to retain the Afghanistan star who has previously played for them in the competition.

Boult was named on Thursday morning as part of the Black Caps squad to meet Australia in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series against Australia in three one-day internationals in Cairns next month.

However, he isn’t likely to be called upon for New Zealand’s tour of Pakistan in December and January, when the Black Caps play two tests and three ODIs.

– more to come