He’s out: Melbourne Renegade Josh Brown to lose Victorian contract

Even before 2024-25 has gone into the books, Victorian Cricket has made its first move for next season, axing Melbourne Renegades opener Josh Brown as it starts to shape its next squad.

Big-hitting Josh Brown will lose his contract after just one season on Victoria’s books.

As the state cricket transfer merry-go-round kicks into gear, Brown will fall out of the Vics’ squad.

The burly right-hander struggled in his four List A matches for Victoria this season, registering scores of 3, 1, 10 and 17.

Brown came down from his home state of Queensland in what was viewed as a dual coup for the Vics and Big Bash League club Melbourne Renegades.

He still has a year to run on his Renegades contract.

It’s understood he is undecided about returning to Queensland but is likely to continue playing club cricket in Melbourne.

Brown had seven matches for Victorian Premier Cricket club Fitzroy Doncaster, for a 173-run return.

He took to the Greenvale Kangaroos in one match, clubbing 83 from 36 deliveries.

At BBL level he performed handily rather than brilliantly for the Gades.

Renegades’ Josh Brown didn’t get going for the Vics in four white-ball matches. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

Meanwhile veteran seamer and former Test star Peter Siddle is set to retire from state cricket.

Siddle, 40, re-signed with the Melbourne Stars in January but told Code Sports he was finished with first-class and List A cricket.

“That’s done, I’ve had enough, I’ve had my time in first class cricket, I still love it, I love bowling but my time is up,” he said.

“There’s plenty of opportunity for the young guys there at Victoria, we’ve got a great group there, I’ll let them do their thing.

“I’m still going to be bowling to them in the nets, spending plenty of time with them, I’m sure the boys won’t mind me rocking up and having a net-bowl with them.”

Siddle has been linked to the vacant Victoria bowling coach role.

The Vics are also set to have another squad vacancy through the medically retired Will Pucovski, who was contracted this summer pending medical advice.

A number of Premier division cricketers are pushing for state deals, most notably Oliver Peake and former NSW batter Blake Macdonald, who, as an uncontracted player, was called into the Sheffield Shield team to play South Australia last week at the Junction Oval.

Blake Macdonald climbs into a short ball against South Australia. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Right-hander Macdonald hit twin centuries in a state second XI match last month and has scored heavily for St Kilda at club level.

The 27-year-old had scores of 45 and 22 in the loss to South Australia.

The Vics will almost certainly hand a state contract to exciting youngster Peake, who was named in a squad of 13 players for the match against South Australia but ultimately overlooked for a Shield debut.

He is playing for the state second XI in this week’s match against the ACT at Greenvale Reserve.

Last October, the 18-year-old cracked two centuries for the Australian Under 19 team in India, and in January he made his BBL debut for the Renegades, scoring 19 off 21 balls.

Dandenong’s Shobit Singh will also be in the thoughts of the Victorian hierarchy after his run-filled season.

Shobit Singh at the crease during the Victorian Premier Cricket Men's Premier Firsts Round 4 match against Greenvale Kangaroos. Picture: Josh Chadwick

The stylish right-hander, an Australian under-16 representative, on Sunday sailed past the 1000-run mark for the season with his unbeaten 116 in the elimination final against Casey South Melbourne.

The century followed earlier innings of 160 against Northcote, 167 against Greenvale Kangaroos and 100 against Footscray. He also scored 98 against Melbourne University.

Victorian great Brendan “Bushy’’ McArdle last night tipped praise on Singh, saying “he looks like he’s got the next level in him, definitely’’.

Dandenong all-rounder James Nanopoulos said of Singh: “He looks a class above every time he bats. He’s been unbelievable, really.

“He times the ball as well as anyone I’ve seen, really. It just flies off. You don’t see too many players at this level do what he’s been doing. It’s not just one or two innings. It’s been eight, nine, 10.’’

In the bowling department, Melbourne’s former WA quick David Moody and left-arm wrist spinner Callum Stow will be considered as Vic squad picks.

Like his Cats clubmate Peake, Stow took his BBL bow this season for the Renegades, making two appearances for Cameron White’s team.

Bowling fast and accurately, Moody grabbed six wickets for the Victorian Second XI on Monday against the ACT.

Originally published as He’s out: Melbourne Renegade Josh Brown to lose Victorian contract