Melbourne Renegades rope in hard-hitting Josh Brown on two-year deal

Melbourne Renegades have secured a sensational signing as they have roped in the hard-hitting Josh Brown on a two-year deal. He played an instrumental role in helping the Brisbane Heat win the coveted Big Bash League (BBL) title after 11 years last season.

The hard-hitting batter could potentially open the batting alongside young Australian prodigy Jake Fraser-McGurk at the Renegades. Last season turned out to be a forgettable one for the Renegades as they finished seventh on the points table in the eight-team tournament. They will look to bounce back strongly in the upcoming season and Brown could play a pivotal role in facilitating the same.

Last season, Brown made people take note of his impressive hitting ability when he smashed a record-breaking 57-ball 140 in the Challenger against Adelaide Strikers. During his spectacular knock, the right-handed batter belted a whopping 12 sixes. He also scored 38-ball 53 in the final, eventually finishing the tournament as the second-highest run-getter with 366 runs from nine matches, having an average of 40.67 and a strike rate of 150.62. After his consistent performances in the BBL, Brown got to play in the Bangladesh Premier League earlier this year.

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Queensland Cricket General Manager - Elite Teams, Performance & Pathways Joe Dawes said that Brisbane Heat made a 'very competitive offer' to Brown, but it was turned down by the 30-year-old.

"We provided Josh and his management with a two-year contract offer that was very lucrative and a significant uplift. However, we understand the lure of a multi-year commitment for him as a player, even though we believed our offer was very competitive and more than fair," Dawes said as quoted by Cricbuzz.

"Our fans will justifiably be disappointed that he won't be with us going forward, and as a club, we are sad to lose Josh, no doubt. However, he will always have a special place in the club's history, and we are proud that the Heat provided him with an opportunity to showcase his skill and make the most of his talent to benefit him and his family," he added.

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With experienced campaigners like Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh retiring after last season, the addition of Brown will certainly go a long way in filling the enormous void. Renegades' latest recruit thanked the Heat for the opportunities he got there and said that he is excited to play alongside young and talented players like Fraser-McGurk and Will Sutherland among others.

"I've enjoyed my time with the Heat, they gave me my opportunity, for which I'll always be grateful and have cherished memories including winning a BBL Championship last season. But I am extremely excited for a new challenge and hopefully achieve the same success with the Renegades. It's a young group with a lot of talent and firepower, especially in that batting group. I can't wait to partner with the likes of (Jake) Fraser-McGurk and (Will) Sutherland and see what we can do," Brown said.