Banter starts early ahead of BBL derby

The Stars and Renegades have to wait until January 2 for the next Melbourne KFC Big Bash League derby but already the banter is starting to come thick and fast.

The two clubs played each other in a pre-season match last weekend.

Renegades coach David Saker, who is also the Victoria mentor, used the occasion to put the Stars on notice.

"I had a lot of jokes with those guys before the game," Saker said.

"I told them I'm not going to pick you in the Bushrangers side if you get too many runs or wickets.

"It's all just good fun and good humour.

"To me T20 cricket is a lot of fun. It's enjoyment."

Gayle touches down in Melbourne

Stars captain David Hussey opined the Renegades would play a "high-risk brand of cricket" in the BBL.

"Twenty20 is all high risk isn't it? Huss is always conservative. He is Mr Conservative," Renegades skipper Aaron Finch quipped in reply.

Hussey and Finch spoke to reporters after signing a responsible gambling charter at the MCG on Wednesday.

Saker hoped the two captains would meet again at the ground in a final.

"It'd be an amazing spectacle to see at the MCG, or a full house at Etihad (Stadium) would be fantastic."

BBL crowds have grown since the league's inception in 2011 and Finch expected more of the same this season.

"I can see more people coming through the gates," Finch said.

"The competition is going from strength to strength and there's absolutely no reason why there wouldn't be record numbers again this year."