Chris Gayle to play for Melbourne Renegades in Big Bash

Chris Gayle is one of the most sort-after T20 players

Big Bash League (BBL) franchise Melbourne Renegades have signed West Indian big-hitter Chris Gayle on a one-year deal. Gayle will return to the Australian T20 league after choosing to instead play in the Ram Slam T20 in South Africa over the last two years.

The 35-year-old is considered by many as the greatest T20 player since the inception of the format in the noughties. He is the only batsman to have scored over 7000 runs in T20 cricket and has done so at an average of 42.06 and a strike-rate of 147.59.

BREAKING: Batting powerhouse @henrygayle is the newest Renegade! Full story - http://t.co/KYvODluoPs #GayleForce pic.twitter.com/AqMPmW7UOt

— Melbourne Renegades (@RenegadesBBL) May 15, 2015

Renegades captain Aaron Finch couldn’t hold back his excitement over the signing of Gayle. According to him, the Caribbean batsman, along with AB de Villiers, is among the world’s best in the T20 format.

Speaking to cricket.com.au, the Australian T20I captain said: "It's huge to sign Chris Gayle. 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."