The West Indian duo of Chris Gayle and Kemar Roach will join Western Australia for the Twenty20 domestic tournament next summer. Gayle was part of this season's tournament but was limited to two matches by a side strain while Roach will be with the state for the first time.

Roach, 21, left one of the biggest marks on the Australian summer when he hit Ricky Ponting on the elbow and forced him to retire hurt during the Test at Perth, his new home ground. His extreme pace makes him a worrying prospect for batsmen and he was picked up by Deccan Chargers for US$720,000 during the third IPL auction.

Western Australia finished a disappointing fourth in the 2009-10 competition and have made the two signings in an effort to reach the lucrative Champions League tournament. "In Chris Gayle we have secured one of the game's best Twenty20 players for the second successive season, while Kemar Roach is one of the most promising young pacemen in world cricket," Western Australia's chief executive Graeme Wood said.

"It has been extremely disappointing to miss out on the opportunity to compete at the first two Champions League Twenty20 tournaments. We strongly believe that with Chris and Kemar added to the exciting local talent in the Warriors' squad, we can give ourselves a great chance of qualifying for the 2011 edition."