Allen will call Optus Stadium home for the next two seasons, after becoming the Scorchers first BBL pre-signing under new league rules which allows franchises to secure an international player before the Draft.
The 25-year-old is among the most destructive opening batters on the planet, renowned for attacking from ball one and sustaining his scoring rate.
This much was evident when Allen hammered 42 from 16 deliveries during the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the SCG, taking down the vaunted pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood on their home ground.
Earlier this year, Allen struck New Zealand’s highest individual T20I score and crushed the national record for the most sixes in a T20I innings, clearing the ropes 16 times during his 62-ball 137 against Pakistan.
His T20I strike rate of 158.69 is the highest of any New Zealand cricketer and seventh all-time among Test-playing nations. Factoring all professional T20 cricket, Allen’s strike rate climbs to 168.60 – a figure topped only by Jamaican superstar Andre Russell (minimum 1000 T20 runs).
A reliable outfielder with wicketkeeping experience, Allen is also capable of deputising for gloveman Josh Inglis if required.
