Gayle, Roach heading to 2011 T20 Big Bash

PERTH, Australia (CMC):

Chris Gayle will return to the Australia's Twenty20 Big Bash next season, and Kemar Roach will make his debut, the Western Australia Cricket Association confirmed yesterday.

The Warriors have announced the signing of the West Indies pair for their 2010-11 Twenty20 Big Bash campaign.

The West Indies captain returns to suit up for Western Australia after playing two matches for the Warriors in last summer's Big Bash, and his current key fast bowler will be along for the ride and take part in the Australian interstate Twenty20 competition for the first time.

"The Twenty20 Big Bash competition continues to grow in profile and stature and we have seen the benefits that all states have gained from qua-lity international recruits," said WACA chief executive and former Australia batsman Graeme Wood.

"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, and this was evident when he became a greatly sought after player at the recent IPL-3 auctions."

Wood added: "Chris Gayle was adopted as a Western Australian, despite injury ruining his campaign with the Retravision Warriors in the 2009-10 Big Bash, and I have no doubt that he will be very keen to repay that loyalty to the WA public when he returns later this year.

"Just as he did last summer, he brings an exciting mix of considerable Twenty20 experience, as well as significant leadership to the Warriors' playing group."