Melbourne club continue West Indian flavour by adding Sunil Narine as second oversas import to join Dwayne Bravo
Renegades turn to Narine for BBL06
Melbourne Renegades have pulled off a coup after announcing the signing of West Indian mystery spinner Sunil Narine for this summer's KFC Big Bash League.
Narine, the ninth-ranked Twenty20 bowler on the International Cricket Council charts, will return for his second stint in the tournament, having played five matches for the Sydney Sixers in BBL|02.
The 28-year-old fills the Renegades second overseas slot, with fellow Trinidadian Dwayne Bravo also signed on for BBL|06.
A two-time Indian Premier League winner with the Kolkata Knight Riders, Narine sits 11th on the all-time T20 wicket-taking list and says he's excited to return to Australian shores.
"This is a great opportunity for me and I'm looking forward to moving down to Melbourne for the BBL season," Narine said.
"The BBL is growing bigger and bigger every year and attracts attention from around the world. The Renegades fans have a reputation for being loyal and loud and I'm ready to see what I can do at Etihad Stadium.
"With my fellow countryman Dwayne Bravo, captain Aaron Finch and the rest of the guys, I'm hoping for a successful tournament."
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Narine will form an imposing dual spin-attack with another new recruit, left-arm wrist-spinner Brad Hogg, who was lured across the Nullarbor from the Perth Scorchers over the winter.
Renegades coach Andrew McDonald, who replaced David Saker after he took an assistant coaching position with the national side in July, said Narine's experience would be crucial for the club.
"I'm really pleased we've been able to get Sunil on board with us this season," McDonald said.
"He has a lot of experience and has won the world's toughest T20 tournament twice – those insights will be a huge benefit to the team in this campaign.
“We know he’s a world-class performer with the ball. We see spin playing a big part in this tournament.
“We’re really excited to have him teaming up with Brad Hogg. They’ll be a nice combination through the middle overs for Aaron Finch to use.”
"He's a proven wicket-taker and someone we know has the ability to stall momentum in our opposition."
Narine has undergone remedial work on his bowling action after copping a ban from the ICC while playing in an ODI against Sri Lanka last November.
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But he returned to play in the West Indies' one-day international tri-series against Australia and South Africa in June.
"It's been a year and something that I've been going through this," Narine told cricket.com.au during the Caribbean tri-series Australia eventually won.
"But I think all cricketers go through some stress in their career.
"This is mine and hopefully I can get over it and go from strength to strength."
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