Muralitharan to play for Melbourne Renegades in Big Bash

Sydney: Legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan has signed for the Melbourne Renegades to play in the Big Bash League.

Muralitharan is set to square off against his old spin bowling rival Shane Warne, who will captain the Melbourne Stars team. Renegades chairman James Brayshaw confirmed that Muralitharan, Test cricket`s greatest ever wicket-taker, would join the Big Bash League franchise. Warne will captain the Renegades` cross town rivals Melbourne Stars. Muralitharan retired from international cricket after last year`s World Cup with a world record 800 Test wickets and 534 one-day international scalps, and has travelled the Twenty20 circuit since, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. "I wanted to play one season in Australia and the opportunity from the Melbourne Renegades was there so I took it with both hands. Last year I watched the BBL from New Zealand and it has a good standard of players and a competitive tournament," he said. The 40-year-old is currently playing T20 cricket with Gloucestershire in England. He has recently played T20 in India, Bangladesh, and took part in New Zealand`s domestic competition last season. ANI