With more experience gained by their young players, the Renegades think they’re ready to defeat the top teams.
In the last two years, the Melbourne Renegades’ team has changed a lot. Now, the club thinks they have a good chance to go for the ultimate prize in the KFC BBL.
The team’s new players don’t get much better than the country’s top spinners, Adam Zampa and Nathan Lyon. Together with experienced bowler Peter Siddle, they’ve added even more know-how to the club.
Also, include South African star Quinton de Kock, who won’t play in the first game against the Sixers but will be there for the next seven matches. Add Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who the Renegades got in the draft, and the head coach, David Saker, is optimistic about BBL|13.
“We’ve kept our young players and brought in some more experienced ones,” he said to cricket.com.au before the upcoming season.
“We made progress last year, but now we’re fully prepared. Our team is strong enough to compete fiercely, and since we reached the finals last year, we’re aiming to do it again,” he said.
“When the finals begin, it’s like a new competition because many teams lose their overseas players. The size and quality of your squad become crucial at that point,” he explained.
Unfortunately, the Renegades won’t have Lyon for their first game against the Sixers on Friday because he’s committed to playing for Australia in the first Test against Pakistan, which starts next Thursday. Additionally, Shaun Marsh, the experienced batsman, is likely to miss the match due to an injury setback.
“We brought in Nathan with the understanding that he might not be available much initially because of his international commitments,” explained James Rosengarten, the general manager of the Melbourne Renegades.
“We want to increase our chances of competing for a BBL championship, and Nathan is a key part of that strategy,” expressed James Rosengarten, Melbourne Renegades general manager.
“His positive influence on the team has already been significant, and we’re looking forward to what Nathan can contribute to the Renegades in BBL|13 and beyond,” said James Rosengarten, Melbourne Renegades general manager.
BBL|12 result- Fourth lost the Knockout final
BBL|13 Draft picks- Quinton de Kock (4th – Platinum) Mujeeb Ur Rahman (12th – Gold)
Squad
Harry Dixon, Aaron Finch, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mackenzie Harvey, Ruwantha Kellapotha, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson (captain), Shaun Marsh, Fergus O’Neill, Kane Richardson, Tom Rogers, Peter Siddle, Will Sutherland, Jon Wells, Adam Zampa. Foreign Players: Quinton de Kock (South Africa), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan), Joe Clarke (England).
Ins
Harry Dixon, Nathan Lyon (Sixers), Peter Siddle (Strikers), Adam Zampa (Stars), Quinton de Kock, Joe Clarke (Stars), Fergus O’Neill
Outs
Zak Evans, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Jack Prestwidge, Corey Rocchiccioli, David Moody, Fawad Ahmed
Possible best XI
Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Shaun Marsh, Aaron Finch, Nic Maddinson, Jon Wells, Will Sutherland, Tom Rogers, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Possible best XI for the first game
Joe Clarke (wicketkeeper), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Nic Maddinson, Aaron Finch, Mackenzie Harvey, Jon Wells, Will Sutherland, Tom Rogers, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Exclusive Insights from Renegades Coach David Saker
Continuing the Progress from the Previous Season
“Last year, as a team – not just the players, but the whole management and coaching staff – we began communicating in the manner teams do when they’re aiming for the finals. We believe strongly that we’re on the right path. We’re confident in our team lineup, and we’re determined to give it our best shot.”
Availability
“We might not have ‘Sos’ (Shaun Marsh) in the initial few games. Unfortunately, he’s faced a couple of injury setbacks, which is quite frustrating. Despite the recurring nature at his age, he’s a valuable presence in our team. If we can get him fit and have him play in six or seven regular season games and during the finals, we’ll be pleased.”
“We’ll aim to rotate ‘Finchy’ (Aaron Finch) and Marsh a bit because Shaun’s performance after traveling hasn’t been consistent, and we want to give Finchy some rest when possible. It’s not our preference, but it’s for our long-term benefit, especially towards the end of the season. It’s crucial for us that Shaun and Aaron are in top form during the latter part of the season.”
Spin to win again
“Adam Zampa, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Nathan Lyon are key players in the middle of the game. They can control the game, which is crucial for our team. Whether they all play together depends on the wickets we’re playing on, but Mujeeb and Zampa perform well in any conditions.”
“We believe in our fast bowlers to perform well, and we have a great balance in our team. Adding Nic Maddinson as a spin option strengthens our spin bowling, and we’re pleased with our pace attack, especially with Peter Siddle supporting Tom Rogers and Kane Richardson.”
Where will Sutherland bat?
We might consider moving him up the batting order depending on the situation. If we’re around 17 or 18 overs with only two wickets down, it would make sense for him to go in next. However, we also have players like ‘Finchy’ and ‘Wellsy’ (Jon Wells) in the middle and towards the end. They perform just as well; Wellsy might not hit big sixes, but he maintains a good scoring rate.
Players to watch
Will Sutherland made significant progress last year, showing improvement not only in batting but also in bowling. His leadership skills earned him the vice-captaincy, and we expect to see even greater strides from him this year. We’re thrilled to have him on the team, and we believe that in three or four years, he could be a strong contender for higher honors.
I’ll be watching Mackenzie Harvey and Jake Fraser-McGurk closely. Jake’s performance in Shield cricket has been impressive, and I believe both of them are well-positioned to make significant strides this year. They are expected to play a crucial role in our team.
Quinton de Kock had an outstanding World Cup, and I think many people in Australia might not be familiar with him. In my opinion, he is one of the best batters globally. We’re very excited to have someone of his caliber in our team, and his leadership adds significant value to us.
Team to beat
We’re facing the same two teams in the first two games. The Sydney Sixers have a strong lineup with experienced players, covering all the essential aspects of the game. They are a tough team to beat in any conditions.
The Perth Scorchers are on another level, as demonstrated by their versatility and skill last year, especially with some young players performing well in a final. We’ll face both of these teams first, and that will give us a good understanding of our standing. While we consider ourselves the third-best team, we believe that on our best days, we can compete and beat these two strong sides.
