Kingston: Swashbuckling West Indies batsman Chris Gayle is expected to be fit for the beginning of the Big Bash League (BBL) season, despite his back surgery, to turn up for the Melbourne Renegades.

Gayle revealed last week that he will be going under the knife in early August, following a charity match on August 2 that he is committed to playing, and said he would return to playing "maybe in December". BBL is Australia's domestic Twenty20 competition.