Can the Renegades go back-to-back?

Despite personnel changes, including a new coach and a last-minute recruit from England, the champions look set to put up a strong defence of their title. 

The Renegades won last year’s final, a Melbourne derby into the bargain, with a fightback from a precarious position. The nucleus of that winning team will pull on the red and black jerseys again.

The new coach for the Renegades is Michael Klinger. Cricket fans will be aware of the impressive resume of Klinger including being the highest run-scorer in BBL history.

The franchise believes that they have the right candidate after a rigorous recruitment process. Klinger is inordinately likeable with a reputation for leadership skills and a clear understanding of what it takes to be successful.

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The coup of the pre-season period for the Renegades was to tempt Shaun Marsh from the Scorchers. Marsh is a veteran of 173 T20s and boasts a batting average of 38.86 in the format with a strike rate of 128.53. Marsh missed most of BBL08 but a 96 not out against Sydney Thunder, albeit in vain, emphasised the quality of the Western Australian.

The Renegades squad boast the usual suspects such as captain Aaron Finch, big-hitting allrounder Dan Christian and fast bowler Kane Richardson. Alongside the experienced trio will be several teenagers: Jake Fraser-McGurk (17), Mackenzie Harvey (19) and Zak Evans (19).

Add to that list Will Sutherland, at 20, to show that the Renegades are planning for the future. Fraser-McGurk and Harvey will head to South Africa for the under-19 Cricket World Cup in January.

The Renegades were due to have Pakistan duo Faheem Ashraf and Usman Shinwari join the franchise for BBL09, but the Pakistan Cricket Board refused to issue their permission.

However, the Renegades quickly moved to replace the pair by looking to England.

Harry Gurney was already due to play but he agreed to play in the whole tournament whereas Lancashire’s Richard Gleeson has agreed to step in for the first eight matches. Mohammed Nabi will replace the seam bowler for the rest of the season.

The loss of Shinwari may have weakened the Renegades bowling slightly, but the acquisition of Marsh will boost an already strong batting line up.

It is a balanced squad for the Renegades in BBL09. There are several match-winners in their own right and the champions will be dangerous opponents this season. They may not go ‘back-to-back’ – only Perth have done that in BBL03 and BBL04 – but expect the Renegades to be close. 

Squad

Cameron Boyce, Dan Christian, Tom Cooper, Zak Evans, Aaron Finch (Captain), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Richard Gleeson, Harry Gurney (Eng), Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Mackenzie Harvey, Jon Holland, Shaun Marsh, Joe Mennie, Mohammad Nabi (Afg), Kane Richardson, Will Sutherland, Beau Webster, Jack Wildermuth

Fixtures