JAMES Pattinson will spearhead Melbourne Renegades’ attack this summer as the red team hopes to crash into the Big Bash finals for just the second time in six seasons.

Pattinson, 26, sat out last summer injured as the Renegades were exposed with the ball despite boasting a powerful batting line-up.

New coach Andrew McDonald — the club’s third in as many seasons — said tearaway quick Pattinson would be available for most matches and the Gades had assembled a more balanced squad.

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Melbourne replaced opener Chris Gayle with right-arm off-spinner Sunil Narine as its second international, signed top-order batsman Marcus Harris and will regain Callum Ferguson from injury.

But Bradley Hogg shapes as the biggest profile recruit — the 45-year-old landing a lucrative contract after a bitter end to his five brilliant seasons at Perth Scorchers.

media_camera James Pattinson has recovered from injury. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Hogg arrived in Melbourne a fortnight early to prepare and claimed 2-21 from four overs in Geelong Cricket Club’s Twenty20 clash on Saturday.

The exploding BBL will be boosted by international superstars Brendan McCullum (Brisbane Heat captain) and Kieron Pollard (Adelaide Strikers) this season.

Cricket Australia opted against expanding the eight-round and eight-club format.

Renegade quick Peter Siddle is still recovering from the back injury which forced him out of the Test team and McDonald said his BBL prognosis would be better known next week.

Peter Nevill could take the gloves for the entire season with fellow Renegade Matthew Wade now Australia’s preferred keeper in five-day and 50-over cricket.

The Gades have received a friendlier fixture this summer with home games against the past two champions — Sydney Thunder and Perth Scorchers — to open the season.

McDonald represented the Renegades in the inaugural season and noted that Pattinson, Wade, Siddle, captain Aaron Finch and bowling revelation Chris Tremain could all be elevated to Australian duty during the summer.

media_camera Brad Hogg has joined the Renegades. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Wade could now miss the entire BBL season while Finch is likely to again sit out the back end when he links up with the ODI squad.

“It’s a good problem to have,” McDonald said.

“We’d love to see our players shoot up and play for Australia and deal with those problems, which will expose some new talent underneath.”

Pattinson’s fiery spell against the Thunder in BBL04 included ripping out McDonald’s off stump and he shapes as the strike bowler the Renegades lacked last summer.

“He’s an exciting prospect, he’s got ball speed and he charges in,” McDonald said.

“It’s a double-edged sword for us — if he does well people might get excited at the next level and rush him into that fold.

“It’s one game at a time for Patto.”

McDonald said Hogg had mastered the art of T20 cricket — knowing which delivery to ball when.

media_camera Callum Ferguson returns to the Renegades this year. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“He brings energy to every contest,” McDonald said.

“He’s hard to pick, he’s a real competitor, he’s always at you and it sounds strange for a spin bowler but he really competes with you and makes it a real contest.”

Narine, 28 is ranked ninth in the ICC’s T20 bowling rankings and will join compatriot Dwayne Bravo at the Gades.

“Narine really will be a banker for us. He really fills out all the options in the spin department,” McDonald said.

“He’s a class act, he brings quality, he’s a world-class performer and we’re really excited to see him and Dwayne Bravo out on the field.

“The West Indians bring that exciting flavour as well. They’re real entertainers.”