Bravo puts crisis behind to sign for Renegades

MELBOURNE, Australia (CMC) — All-rounder Dwayne Bravo has put aside his West Indies contracts wrangle and put pen to paper for Melbourne Renegades in the upcoming T20 Big Bash League starting here next month.

One of the most sought after personalities in the T20 format, the Trinidadian will turn out for the Renegades for the second straight year after playing their two final games of last season.

Bravo, the West Indies one-day captain, was at the centre of the recent bitter pay dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA), representing the aggrieved players while on the tour of India.

Currently in South Africa playing in that domestic T20 League, the Ram Slam, Bravo said he was looking forward to his stint with the Renegades.

"I've always had a great relationship with Melbourne as a city and although it was a short stint in BBL/03, I had a great time with the Melbourne Renegades," Bravo said.

"I'm really excited about linking up with the team again this season. The Renegades have added a strong mix of talent in the off season, which is really important in this format.

"With Aaron Finch as captain, I know everyone will be working hard to get the wins on the board. It's a good feeling to be back in red again."

Bravo is a free-scoring lower order batsman whose medium pace has been effective in the T20 format. He has been a key member of Indian Premier League side Chennai Super Kings who helped to capture the Champions League Twenty20 last month.

Renegades coach Simon Helmot, who worked with Bravo while attached to Trinidad and Tobago during the Caribbean Premier League, says the player would be an asset.

"You can't overstate the importance of someone like Dwayne to a team, especially in the T20 arena," Helmot said.

"He's simply one of the best T20 all-rounders in the world. We can't wait to have him back in red at Etihad Stadium."

Bravo has taken over 200 wickets in Twenty20s and averages 27 at a strike rate of 125.