Gayle, Bravo set to bring calypso flair to the Renegades

The Melbourne Renegades will boast the world's most destructive opening combination after they signed West Indies power-hitter Chris Gayle for next season's KFC T20 Big Bash League.

It will also give the Renegades a distinctive Caribbean flavour with Dwayne Bravo returning to the fold. Both international signings are on one-year deals and will be available for the entirety of BBL|05 with the West Indies due to tour Australia next summer.

Bravo played only four games for the Renegades last season before being replaced by Bangladesh allrounder Shakib-al-Hasan, who is now without a Big Bash club, averaging 12.66 with the bat and taking four wickets at 26.75.

Gayle's arrival gives the Renegades two of the world's current top six Twenty20 batsmen with the 35-year-old ranked behind club and Australia T20 captain Aaron Finch, who is the current world No.2.

Finch told cricket.com.au he was delighted to have Gayle as his opening partner for BBL|05.

"It's huge to sign Chris Gayle," said Finch. "He's someone who has dominated this format over a long period of time.

"Along with AB (de Villiers), there is not many of them in the same bracket. He's the world's best I think.

"He dominates a game, he can win a game by himself in very limited time.

"To have signed someone like him to open the batting with is going to be a huge bonus for the Renegades but also the fans who are going to get to see cricket's biggest hitter at Etihad stadium."

Video: the always-charismatic Chris Gayle returns to the BBL

This will be Gayle's second stint in the Big Bash League after he played the opening two seasons of BBL with the Sydney Thunder. He previously played with the state-based version of the domestic T20 competition in Western Australia. Gayle averaged less than 20 in BBL|02 and caused ructions by staying away from the rest of the team in a plush hotel. 

Renegades chief executive Stuart Coventry said Gayle had "moved on from that experience in western Sydney" and he had no qualms recruiting him to the Renegades.

"The one thing I worked out after a really long chat over dinner last night is that he's not that precious and he'll do whatever it takes within the team environment to make sure we're successful," Coventry tolf Fairfax.

"He's pretty keen to come to Melbourne ... he really wants to make an impact."

In a statement released by the Renegades, Gayle said: "It's exciting to be coming to the Melbourne Renegades in the sporting capital of Australia. I'm looking forward to seeing the fans, getting to know the city a little more and helping the team into the finals in BBL|05.

"The club has put together a really solid list of players and with a new coach, we're looking at a big summer at Etihad Stadium."

New coach David Saker, who today is also unveiled as Cricket Victoria's new first-class coach, said Gayle's experience and all-round ability were valuable to the Renegades.

"Chris's abilities and experience goes without saying. He has tremendous skills both as an explosive T20 batsman but also as that genuine allrounder you need," Saker said.

"He's someone who can inspire the squad, particularly among our batsmen, with his confidence and his ability to back himself and flick the switch when the time is right."

Gayle offered a timely reminder of his phenomenal hitting power when he blazed 12 sixes in an innings of 117 from 57 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League, which included 20 runs from one Mitchell Johnson over.

It was the left-hander's fifth IPL century – no-one else has more than two – while he also holds the record for the world's highest T20 score – an astonishing 175 not out from just 66 deliveries made for RCB in April 2013.

Gayle is averaging 43 for RCB this season, with a strike rate of 155.42. Earlier this year, he scored the first-ever double century at a World Cup – 215 from just 157 balls against Zimbabwe at Manuka Oval in Canberra.

Renegades BBL|05 squad so far: Aaron Finch, Chris Gayle, Cameron White, Matthew Wade, Dwayne Bravo, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Callum Ferguson, Nathan Rimmington, Tom Cooper, Tom Beaton, Matthew Short, Nick Winter.