Hodge, Hussey to be Twenty20 rivals

Two of Victoria's star Twenty20 batsmen, Brad Hodge and David Hussey, are expected to line up against each other during the Big Bash League this summer. Hussey confirmed he has decided to join Melbourne Stars, based at the MCG, while Hodge is expected to line-up for Stars' cross-town rivals, Melbourne Renegades, who will play at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne's Docklands.

There were no major signings confirmed on Monday, although the former Tasmania batsman Travis Birt, who recently switched to Western Australia, will head back to Hobart for the Twenty20 tournament to play with Hobart Hurricanes. He will be joined by the Western Australia fast bowler Michael Hogan, while Brisbane Heat signed the Queensland fast man Ben Cutting. Sydney Sixers locked in the New South Wales batsman Ben Rohrer.

Cameron White is expected to captain Stars, while the West Indies allrounder Dwayne Bravo, who has played for Victoria in the Big Bash, is in talks with one of the Melbourne sides. Neither Melbourne team has officially named any recruits yet, but Hussey said he would play with Stars under coach Greg Shipperd.

"There is something attractive about playing at home," Hussey said in the Weekend Australian. "I want to see Australia have a successful competition and I still believe that on the domestic front our cricket is the benchmark in world cricket.

"The reason I chose Stars was I made a pact with a group of players to play in the team and hopefully have a successful year and go on to play in the Champions League, where we will reap the rewards in prize money. It is a different model to where you see two or three superstars who take all the money."