Melbourne Renegades Ready and Raring for WBBL|04

After a season of narrow misses in WBBL|03, the Renegades have been active this off-season bringing in new talent, with an eye on making a first WBBL finals appearance in WBBL|04.

A player who returns to the Gades is English all-rounder Danni Wyatt. Wyatt last played for the Gades in WBBL|02 but don’t expect to see the same player. Wyatt has transformed her game to become a destructive opening batter, who has posted two T20I hundreds. To add to this Wyatt will be one of the best fielders in the WBBL, not just at the Renegades.

Anna Lanning has made the jump from the Stars to the Renegades for WBBL04. Lanning will be a welcome addition to the middle order for the Gades, as she is quite a busy player who will keep the game moving forward. Lanning is another player who is quite good in the field and look for her to play a key role this season.

Joining the Gades from the nation’s capital is the pairing of Zoe Cooke and Erica Kershaw. Cooke will join quite a handy bowling attack as she accompanies the likes of Lea Tahuhu, Tayla Vlaeminck, Maitlan Brown and Claire Koski. Kershaw on the other hand brings power to our batting depth and could be used throughout the order. She’s a player who can turn the game in the Gades favour in no time.

Making the move over the over bass strait is Courtney Webb. The talented all-rounder will add great flexibility and depth to the Gades, with her right arm mediums to go with her solid stroke play. Webb is also quite a footballer and is on Carlton’s list in the ALFW competition.

With all this new talent in the squad, it only bolsters the talent already at the Renegades, with skipper Amy Satterthwaite the mainstay with the bat. Satterthwaite was the player of the season for the Gades in WBBL|03, collecting 368 runs at 33.45, while also taking 11 wickets at 20.91 with her crafty off spin. As a leader Satterthwaite is a tactical mastermind and will look to steer the Renegades to a first finals appearance.

Our trio that went over to the Caribbean and brought home the WT20 title will be set to continue their great seasons. Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux and Tayla Vlaeminck all played pivotal roles for Australia, but in the red this summer, they will look to assert themselves as some of Australia’s best T20 players. Molineux enjoyed a breakout season in WBBL|03 making 318 runs with a highest score of 62, while also taking six wickets at 24.67 with her left arm offies.

Wareham will look to carry her momentum for a sensational WT20, which was capped off with 2-11 in the final and a brilliant direct hit run out. In WBBL|03 Wareham took ten wickets with her leggies but look for that number to go up in WBBL|04.

Young Gun to Watch: Tayla Vlaeminck - The right arm quick has enjoyed a great run of form which saw her debut for Australia, before playing for the Renegades. Crippled by injury during WBBL|02 and WBBL|03, look for Vlaeminck to make up for lost time as the young quick takes the new ball for the Renegades. She is raw but has speed to burn and will have an element of surprise to many in the WBBL.

Player to Watch: Claire Koski - Another one of the ACT contingent in the Renegades squad, Koski has power in abundance with the bat. Her front foot pull shot is something else and the power she gets through the ball is on another level. Koski could feature anywhere in the top six, and will put fear into the bowlers, knowing a stray in length or line could go the journey. Koski will also be one to watch with the ball, in the latest practice match against the Stars, she picked up three wickets and bowled with good pace. Keep an eye out for Koski to play a major role in the Renegades charge during WBBL|04. 

Usual suspects for the Renegades Molly Strano and Tahuhu will also spearhead the bowling division. Tahuhu with her out and out pace gives the Renegades that X-factor. While Strano is quite crafty with her off-spin and uses her changes of pace to deceive the batters. Strano is a bit different to a lot of spinners in T20 cricket, as she likes to bowl in the first six overs during the powerplay. 

Squad:Amy Satterthwaite (NZ, c), Maitlan Brown, Zoe Cooke, Jess Duffin, Claire Koski, Erica Kershaw, Emma Inglis (wk), Anna Lanning, Sophie Molineux, Molly Strano, Lea Tahuhu (NZ), Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham, Courtney Webb, Danni Wyatt (ENG)

Catch the Renegades first game of the season against the Sydney Thunder this Sunday December 2 at the CitiPower Centre, Junction Oval from 1:50pm.

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