Melbourne Renegades sign English all-rounder Samit Patel in bid to save BBL title defence

The winless Melbourne Renegades are soon to be gutted as players depart for representative duty but coach Michael Klinger has a recruitment ace up his sleeve.

(FILES) In this file photo taken on July 30, 2017 South Africa's Morne Morkel takes the ball as he prepares to bowl during play on day 4 of the third Test match between England and South Africa at The Oval cricket ground in London. South African fast bowler Morne Morkel announced on February 26, 2018 that he would retire from international cricket after the four-Test series against Australia which starts at Kingsmead on Thursday / AFP PHOTO / Glyn KIRK / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO ASSOCIATION WITH DIRECT COMPETITOR OF SPONSOR, PARTNER, OR SUPPLIER OF THE ECB

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English all-rounder Samit Patel is the man Melbourne Renegades have zeroed in on to replace compatriot Harry Gurney.

Patel, 35, has played with Renegades Gurney and Dan Christian in England and is in the frame to make his Big Bash debut tomorrow night in Geelong.

A spin-bowling all-rounder who played six Tests, Patel has played more than 250 career T20 matches.

The team is in and, hang on, is that a new player? No, wait. TWO NEW PLAYERS? https://t.co/aVsj3NPDko It's a new-look squad for Tuesday night in Geelong #GETONRED pic.twitter.com/3V07DyxdV7

— Melbourne Renegades (@RenegadesBBL) January 6, 2020

The Renegades have become the Melbourne Replacements with coach Michael Klinger scouring both Australia and the world to fill holes in the club’s winless squad.

English bowler Gurney will miss about four more games with a torn hamstring while teenage sensations Jake Fraser McGurk and Mackenzie Harvey flew to Brisbane on Sunday for a pre-Under-19 World Cup camp.

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Samit Patel could make his BBL debut on Tuesday night for Melbourne Renegades.

Captain Aaron Finch and strike weapon Kane Richardson will fly to India after Tuesday night’s clash against Perth Scorchers in Geelong. Klinger said Richardson had been “holding us together”.

“We’re certainly looking at a couple of players now,” Klinger said.

“The issue is when you get guys from overseas with visas it can take four or five days to organise with guys in the UK or South Africa.

“It would’ve been nice to sign Haris Rauf if Cricket Victoria mentioned him to us as well (as the Stars).”

If the Renegades can’t sign an overseas player and sort his visa by Tuesday then struggling Englishman Richard Gleeson will play his third-straight game as the sole international.

Tymal Mills in action for the Hurricanes in BBL07. Picture: Luke Bowden

Afghan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi is due to replace Gleeson for Sunday’s game against Adelaide Strikers.

Klinger is still deciding whether Christian, Shaun Marsh or Tom Cooper should captain during Finch’s five-game absence.

Journeyman Andrew Fekete, 34, has been training with the squad and is in line to replace either Harvey or Fraser-McGurk. Klinger will sign a “fringe state player” to fill the other spot.

At 0-6 the Renegades are on their worst ever losing streak and Klinger sat down his top seven batsmen for a frank discussion after Saturday night’s loss to Stars.

“There’s eight games to go and with the top five now you may have to win six to get that fifth spot,” Klinger said.

Melbourne Renegades Head Coach Michael Klinger (L) is hunting for replacements for his team, and a skipper to cover for Aaron Finch (R) who will fly to India after Tuesday night’s clash against Perth Scorchers in Geelong. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

“Our season is certainly not over. Maybe (our batsmen should be) playing with a little bit less fear as well, especially to spin bowling.

“Maybe look for your positive option. A lot of our guys are getting out trying to nurdle one.”

Klinger conceded that Fraser-McGurk and Harvey would’ve played “a lot of BBL cricket” in the run home if they were available.

While Harvey (hand) was underdone, he was tempted to blood 17-year-old Fraser-McGurk, who posted half-centuries on debut for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield and Marsh Cup.

Renegades expected Andre Russell to sign but he chose to play in Bangladesh and they then had Pakistanis Usman Shinwari and late-order hitter Faheem Ashraf pull out of contracts.

“The two Pakistani guys who were meant to come they’re very skilful T20 bowlers and you lose eight overs of very good skill,” Klinger said. “That knocks you around a little bit. Gleese (Richard Gleeson) I thought he’s actually bowled pretty well the last couple of games. He maybe was a little bit underdone in the first couple.”

Originally published as Melbourne Renegades sign English all-rounder Samit Patel in bid to save BBL title defence