BBL: Melbourne Renegades sign Gurinder Sandhu from Sydney Thunder

A former Australian ODI bowler is on the move to a new BBL club as he hopes to revive his international career.

Gurinder Sandhu still harbours ambitions to return to international cricket as he crosses from the Sydney Thunder to Melbourne Renegades to revive his BBL career.

The two-time Australian ODI pace bowler will join the Renegades on a one-year deal after spending 11 of 12 BBL campaigns with the Thunder.

Sandhu, 31, said the “writing was on the wall” when he only managed four games last summer and the Thunder then added Adelaide Strikers quick Wes Agar, but he is adamant his best cricket still lies ahead of him in all three formats.

The NSW-born quick has played domestic cricket all over the eastern seaboard, moving to Tasmania in 2018 only to be delisted two seasons later.

Melbourne Renegades have signed Gurinder Sandhu, who was one of the form bowlers in Australian domestic cricket last summer for Queensland. Picture: Paul Kane / Getty Images

But Sandhu has re-emerged as an important bowler for Queensland and led the Bulls for one-day wickets (nine at 25.66) and was second for Sheffield Shield wickets (31 at 25.96) last summer.

It was an impressive season that began with a dominant haul of 5-27 for Australia A against New Zealand A in September that Sandhu said instilled fresh belief he could return to international cricket.

“That reignited a bit of that belief again, that I can still do it, and potentially there’s still a chance,” Sandhu said.

“Having two one-day games for Australia to my name is awesome, but to be able to add some one-day games or T20 games to that would be amazing.”

It has been almost 10 years since Sandhu bolted into the Australian squad for an ODI tri-series against India and England in January 2015.

Gurinder Sandhu celebrates his first ODI wicket of Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane with Aaron Finch (left) at the MCG in January 2015. Picture: David Crosling / AAP

He said he had evolved significantly as a bowler since then and was still looking to find extra pace by experimenting with a faster run-up during this pre-season.

“Just with experience, I feel like I’m calmer in certain situations now than I was then,” he said.

“I feel like I’m in the prime of my career, either red ball or white ball. I’m keen to have another big season and then you never really know what could happen.”

Sandhu makes 11 players contracted to the Renegades ahead of this season and adds another pace option to a mix of Will Sutherland, Kane Richardson and Tom Rogers.

He said excitement was high with Cameron White on-board as coach and Jake Fraser-McGurk and Brisbane Heat recruit Josh Brown poised to form a high-octane opening partnership.

Cricket Australia confirmed on Monday the international player drafts for both the BBL and WBBL would be held on September 1.

Sandhu’s Renegades will open their season against the Sydney Sixers at the SCG on December 16.