MELBOURNE RENEGADES
LAST SEASON: 6th (3 wins, 5 losses)
PREDICTION: 3rd
In: Cameron White (Stars), Chris Gayle (West Indies), Xavier Doherty (Hurricanes), Nathan Hauritz (Thunder), Chris Tremain (Thunder)
Out: Ben Rohrer, Fawad Ahmed (both Sydney Thunder), Andrew Fekete, Alex Doolan (both Heat), Aaron O’Brien (delisted)
Retained: Aaron Finch, Matthew Wade, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Callum Ferguson, Nathan Rimmington, Tom Cooper, Tom Beaton, Matthew Short, Nick Winter, Dwayne Bravo, Peter Nevill
THE BRIEF
Perhaps one of the biggest off season recruits for the Renegades is coach David Saker.
He’s been amongst a winning culture for many years behind the scenes and has the Victorian Shield side atop of the ladder heading toward the Christmas break.
Saker, however, isn’t going to win you games once the coin has been tossed but two other Renegades recruits might well do that, with Chris Gayle and Cameron White among the inclusions for the Red Army this summer.
How many games they get out of the like of pace pairing James Pattinson and Peter Siddle could well determine how deep the Renegades go.
THE FAB FIVE
CHRIS GAYLE (batsman)
Was reportedly shopped around to various BBL franchises including a return to the Thunder, but Renegades were apparently the only interested party, which I personally found surprising.
His last season at the Thunder was a nightmare but, as the T20 world’s ultimate gun for hire, cricket fans and opponents are all too aware what he is capable of.
Coupled with captain Aaron Finch, the pair have the potential to form one of the most dynamic opening partnerships in T20 history.
The uber cool Gayle famously tweeted a photo earlier this year of a stripper pole he has installed in his home – I wonder if he’s had that shipped over to his hotel room for the summer?
AARON FINCH (batsman)
Not long ago he was officially the best T20 batsman in the world and is still not too far off. What the partnership with Gayle bring out of the Renegades skipper is the question; the possible answers have Renegades fans and neutral observers salivating.
A sharp cricket mind, he’ll no doubt relish the input from the likes of White and Wade (if fit) given both also have extensive captaincy experience.
DWAYNE BRAVO (all-rounder)
Returns to the Renegades for another season having represented the Sydney Sixers at one point and also Victoria in the old state based Big Bash competition.
A crowd favourite and also a popular member of the Renegades line up, Bravo performed well for the West Indies in a two match series against Sri Lanka in November and also in the RAM SLAM – South Africa’s T20 comp – where he represented the Dolphins.
Another West Indian who prioritises T20 cricket over representing his country – which is great for the Big Bash as a competition
CAMERON WHITE (batsman)
Former Melbourne Stars skipper who has made the switch across to Etihad Stadium after not receiving a new contract with his former franchise.
It was another coup for the Red Army who have poached a handful of players from their arch rivals in recent seasons, after the Stars set a trend following year one when they snared Glenn Maxwell and Brad Hodge.
At his best, White is a destructive batsman, a handy part time bowler, a fantastic fielder and one of the sharpest minds in Australian cricket.
If he rediscovers his best touch, he could well be the snare of the season.
XAVIER DOHERTY (off spinner)
A member of Australia’s world cup winning squad, Doherty, while often maligned, has been either this country’s best or one of the best short for spinners for almost a decade.
Departs his native state of Tasmania where he has represented the Hurricanes since the inception of the competition, Doherty could form a two pronged spin attack with Nathan Hauritz.
As Fawad Ahmed has showed, Etihad is an attractive option for a decent spin bowler.
