Marlon Samuels signs for Melbourne Renegades

West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels has signed with Melbourne Renegades for the second season of the Big Bash League. Samuels joins the former Sri Lankan offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan as the Renegades' overseas players for the season.

Samuels is fresh from a successful World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, where he finished the overall third-highest run-scorer with 230 runs with three fifties at a strike-rate of 132.94. His game-changing 78 off 56 balls in the final helped set up West Indies' title win.

Renegades coach Simon Helmot said Samuels will be a welcome addition to the top of the order that includes the openers Aaron Finch and Daniel Harris.

"He'll provide much-needed firepower at the top of the order and brings a certain X-factor to the team," Helmot said. "His quality right-arm offies [offspin] and excellent fielding combine to make him a genuine allrounder. Marlon provides a huge boost for the team in all facets of the game and we can't wait to see him in Renegade red this summer."

The Renegades had a forgettable opening season in the BBL last year, losing five matches and finishing second from bottom. The club had signed the fast bowler Brendan Drew last month, from Adelaide Strikers.