SYDNEY, Australia (CMC):

All-rounder Dwayne Smith has become the fourth West Indies cricketer signing up for Australia's upcoming Twenty20 Big Bash tournament.

The Champions League T20 winners, New South Wales (NSW) Blues, signed the Barbadian Smith this week for the tournament starting later this month.

Smith, who has played for Sussex in England and with Indian Premier League teams Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians, joins Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard as West Indians slated for the December 28 to January 23 tournament.

'Dynamic player'

"Dwayne is a dynamic player and will provide us with power hitting in the middle order as well as a vital bowling option with his deceptive medium pacers," said Cricket NSW chief executive David Gilbert in a statement.

"He is also a superb fielder and his experience in this form of the game will be a big plus for our squad," Gilbert added.

The NSW Blues will face Tasmania in their opening game on December 30 at Bellerive Oval.

Gayle will play for the Western Australia Warriors, Bravo has signed for the Victoria Bushrangers and Pollard is with South Australia Redbacks.

As a result of their participation in the Big Bash tournament, the West Indian quartet will miss the early rounds of the WICB first-class season, starting on January 8.