The Melbourne Renegades boast one of the strongest opening batting partnerships imaginable for the 2015-16 Twenty20 Big Bash League, and it is hard to see them missing the finals.
While there have been some big signings heading into the season, arguably none are bigger than West Indian opening batsman Chris Gayle, who makes the transfer to the Renegades from the Sydney Thunder.
Gayle is one of the most experienced Twenty20 players in the world, and certainly one of the game’s biggest hitters. He has the ability to captivate an audience, and take a game away from the opposition in a matter of overs.
Even more exciting for the Renegades and their fans, Gayle will be joined at the top of the batting order by another big hitter in Aaron Finch, who will once again captain the Melbourne side.
Although he struggled last season with the bat, not producing his normal explosiveness or high scores, Finch’s talents have propelled him into the national side.
The Renegades’ other overseas-based player will be Dwayne Bravo, whom they welcome back for a second season in red.
Bravo only played four games for the Renegades last season and struggled by his own standards, picking up four wickets and scoring 38 runs. However at his best he can change the course of a game with either bat or ball.
The Renegades’ biggest strength is undoubtedly their top order. Along with Finch, Gayle and Bravo, they have Callum Ferguson, Tom Cooper and Cameron White. Ferguson and Cooper are solid players, but White, who will potentially bat down the order at number six, is a scary prospect.
White is one of the most experienced and skilled players on the Twenty20 circuit, and if he bats to his potential, then a role in the middle to lower order could absolutely demoralise a team. He can also accelerate the scoring rate, or knuckle down and rebuild an innings if need be. With the ability to fill any position in the batting order, he could be moved into the top order if there is a quick loss of wickets to protect aggressive lower-order players.
The one area the Renegades may struggle with is their bowling.
Missing James Pattinson and Peter Siddle during the early part of the season, they are short on pace bowlers. Nathan Rimmington is certainly no slouch with the ball, but he doesn’t have a lot of support from the established players.
However this means younger players like Chris Tremain and Cameron Gannon have a chance to stand up, with both arriving from poorly performing teams last year in the Sydney Thunder and Brisbane Heat.
If they do bowl well, it is hard to see the Renegades losing many games. They have a strong, well-balanced side, with Bravo providing a fifth bowling option.
Squad
Aaron Finch (c), Tom Beaton, Dwayne Bravo, Tom Cooper, Xavier Doherty, Callum Ferguson, Cameron Gannon, Chris Gayle, Nathan Hauritz, Trent Lawford, Peter Nevill, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Nathan Rimmington, Matthew Short, Chris Tremain, Matthew Wade, Cameron White, Nicholas Winter.
Draw (all times AEDT)
Saturday, December 19 – Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Renegades at Gabba (7:10pm)
Wednesday, December 23 – Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Sixers at Etihad Stadium (7:10pm)
Wednesday, December 30 – Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers at Etihad Stadium (7:10pm)
Saturday, January 2 – Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades at MCG (6:10pm)
Monday, January 4 – Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Renegades at Blundstone Arena (7:40pm)
Saturday, January 9 – Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars at Etihad Stadium (7:10pm)
Monday, January 11 – Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Renegades at Spotless Stadium (7:40pm)
Monday, January 18 – Melbourne Renegades vs Adelaide Strikers at Etihad Stadium (7:40pm)
Prediction: Second
The Renegades look set for a strong season, potentially one of the best in the club’s history. With the explosive top order they possess, they could put a number of games away in the early stages of the contest.
With the likes of Pattinson returning from Australian duty later in the campaign, it is hard to see them not finishing right up the top end of the ladder.
The only issue will be winning early in the season, but they should manage that against the Heat and Scorchers, who will both be missing players.
Don’t forget, you will be able to catch live coverage of every Twenty20 Big Bash League game right here on The Roar with our live blogs.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
Shaun Marsh has called time on his marathon 24-season professional cricket career, telling Melbourne Renegades teammates he will not play on next summer. Marsh…
Captain Glenn Maxwell has celebrated his 100th BBL game for the Stars with all-round excellence in their Melbourne derby win over the Renegades. Everything…
The Perth Scorchers have overcome a crazy batting collapse and a Shaun Marsh masterclass to post a 13-run BBL win over the Melbourne Renegades…
Matthew Wade has blasted 82 as the Hobart Hurricanes overcame the Melbourne Renegades and some fielding restriction drama to notch a breakthrough Big Bash…
The Melbourne Renegades' Big Bash League clash with the Perth Scorchers has been abandoned after fewer than seven overs because of safety concerns over…
Usman Khawaja will head to India full of confidence after helping Brisbane Heat past Melbourne Renegades by seven wickets in their BBL knockout final…
