As a Twenty20 world champion and an Indian Premier League title-winner, Dwayne Bravo is a heavyweight of cricket’s ultra-short version.
Bravo is in Australia to play two BBL games for Melbourne Renegades in a hit-and-run mission ahead of domestic one-day commitments in the West Indies.
The 30-year-old allrounder faces the challenge of trying to lift the seventh-placed Renegades (2-4 win-loss) back into semi-final contention.
“There’s a lot of hype with me coming here and the team definitely in a must-win situation,” Bravo told reporters on Friday.
“The pressure is going to be there but I’m the type of person that absorbs pressure and delivers most of the time under pressure.”
The absence of Renegades’ skipper and the tournament’s leading run scorer, Aaron Finch, for the next two games because of Australia’s ODI commitments heaps even more pressure on the chilled-out Bravo, who was all blinged up with a big gold chain and massive watch at the team’s hotel.
“I’m feeling at home. I feel very comfortable,” he smiled.
Just don’t ask him to blast big scores from the top of the order.
“I don’t think anyone can fill Aaron Finch’s boots. He’s in great form,” said Bravo, who played for Victoria in the former Big Bash before it become a city-based competition.
“He’s one of the better players in this format of the game.
“I don’t see myself as an opening batsman. I see myself as a middle-order finisher.
“I’m not going to try to match him.”
Bravo hit 106 for the Windies in Hamilton earlier this month in an ODI clash with New Zealand. His Kiwi tour featured a series of exchanges between the Australia and West Indies boards and his management, but finally a deal was done to play in the BBL.
He says he follows the league closely, having previously played with the Sydney Sixers.
The Windies’ ODI skipper said he was keen to lock horns with his former Sixers teammate and good friend Brett Lee, who’s still bowling at express pace at 37.
“I always look forward to facing him,” Bravo said.
“He’s still looking fit despite his retirement from international cricket.”
The Renegades host the third-placed Sixers (4-2) at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night and Bravo’s side also travel to Adelaide to play the fifth-placed Strikers on Wednesday.
Bravo says his focus is on performing with bat and ball.
“If I come good with both, the Renegades will definitely win,” he said.