XAVIER Doherty is a Hurricane no more.
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The former George Town and Launceston spinner on Friday joined the Melbourne Renegades, replacing Test tourist Fawad Ahmed at the Etihad Stadium-based franchise.
The left-arm orthodox spinner, the first Hurricane signed, took 24 wickets in 26 matches for Hobart, at times opening the bowling.
Overall, the 2015 World Cup-winning squad member has played 66 T20s, taking 56 wickets at 31.07 with an economy rate of 7.53.
He has played 11 T20Is, taking 10 wickets at 30 with an economy rate of 7.89.
It will be the first time the 32-year-old has played in a domestic side that isn't Tasmanian.
Doherty joins West Indian Chris Gayle and former national T20 captain Cameron White as big-name recruits for Aaron Finch's squad, on an Etihad Stadium wicket that has friendly for spinners.
"I was presented with a pretty good opportunity to play at a different club and after quite a bit of thought I decided to take that opportunity and head to Melbourne for a crack with the Renegades," Doherty said on Hobart's website yesterday.
"It was a pretty hard decision to make, a decision I pondered on for a while especially given the fact that I have been with the Hurricanes since day one. It was pretty tough decision to make but like I said it's an opportunity to play somewhere different which doesn't come around very often.
"I am proud that I have been in the Tassie system since I was 17 but also on the other side, it would be a shame if I was here all this time and didn't experience a different system.
'Looking at (Hobart's) squad and given that Darren Sammy is coming back next year, this gives the team three slow bowlers which isn't always going to be ideal for me." Last year's skipper George Bailey remains unsigned for Tasmania's T20 franchise.