BBL10: Suburban stars who could help Melbourne Renegades out of BBL funk

BBL teams are inclined to look overseas to bolster their squads, but there’s enough local talent in Victoria to make Melbourne Renegades a force again.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 05: Peter Siddle of the Strikers celebrates during the Big Bash League match between the Melbourne Renegades and the Adelaide Strikers at Adelaide Oval, on January 05, 2021, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

Rooted to the bottom of the BBL table — again — the questions are mounting about how Melbourne Renegades can turn their ailing fortunes around.

The champions of BBL08 won only three games during their title defence, finishing six points adrift at the bottom of the table.

And their hopes of a rapid resurrection are all but dead eight games into this campaign, lurching to a 1-7 record after a 60-run loss to Adelaide Strikers.

“There’s been some really dumb batting this season," captain Aaron Finch said after the loss to the Strikers.

“Four games, to get bowled out inside your 20 overs and a few of them inside 13 overs, it’s just some dumb cricket.

“I can’t put my finger on it right now, it’s a combination of quite a few things.

“At times we have been brilliant, especially with the ball. I thought there’s been some really good stuff. But when the pressure comes on, we’re not getting it done.”

Perhaps the most glaring thing about Tuesday’s loss was the Renegades were put to the sword by Ryan Gibson, who earned player of the match honours with two catches and 43 not out from 31 balls.

Melbourne Renegades slumped to 1-7 after their loss to Adelaide Strikers.

Gibson was previously listed by Sydney Thunder and earned another BBL opportunity with 312 runs in three innings to open the South Australian Premier season.

Renegades coach Michael Klinger spoke of opportunities for young players after his side’s recent loss in Perth and there’s no shortage of talent in Victorian Premier Cricket who could emulate Gibson.

“The youngsters showed a little bit there but there was just some dumb cricket again,” Finch told Channel 7.

“It was really good for 16 overs with the ball. We had some great momentum. That partnership between Weatherald and Gibson, that was probably the turning point in the game.”

The Renegades will need to plug at least two holes in coming weeks with Rilee Russouw sidelined due to a hamstring injury and Mohammad Nabi heading to the UAE for an international series against Ireland.

Here’s the players the Renegades should be considering to help turn their season around who are in their own backyard:

Henry Thornton has made a big impression since moving to Victoria.

Henry Thornton (St Kilda)

The fast bowler, who played one game for Sydney Sixers in BBL06, has relocated from NSW to Victoria this summer and is making a huge impression with 13 wickets in four games including two four-wicket hauls. The Renegades haven’t bowled a team out since their season opener against Perth and Thornton’s firepower would be handy.

Brayden Stepien (Carlton)

The calls on social media for Stepien to be given another BBL opportunity have reached fever pitch. He played for the Renegades last season after Sam Harper went down with concussion, but didn’t get a chance to show his talents with the bat. The Carlton opener is the leading run scorer in Victoria with 363 runs at 121. More impressively — but not surprisingly — those runs have come at a strike rate of 127.

Brayden Stepien enjoys the wicket of Chris Lynn while keeping for the Renegades.

Round 2 Player of the Week
Brayden Stepien 157 not out off 113 balls
Strike rate: 138.9 pic.twitter.com/X7Ld4Sl9Mg

— Neville Box (@CCCboxy) December 10, 2020

Time to get Brayden Stepien in the Big Bash League?

The @CarltonCCScores star has just blasted his side to back-to-back @VicSuperSlam Renegades Conference titles against Northcote in 19 balls of insanity. Just 4.1 overs to chase 86, absolutely incredible. pic.twitter.com/w9gS2uTb87

— Nick Creely (@NCreely) January 19, 2020

James Seymour (Essendon)

One of the Ryder medallists from last summer, Essendon batsman Seymour has backed up a 711-run campaign with 331 runs already this season. He’s represented the Victorian Second XI in the past 12 months so he’s clearly on the radar.

🏅 James Seymour (@EssendonCC) & David King (@RingwoodCC) have been crowned as the Jack Ryder Medallists for 2019-20! pic.twitter.com/EA18eNM3VS

— Vic Premier Cricket (@vicpremcricket) April 24, 2020

And that'll do it. Another hundred for James Seymour in @vicpremcricket. At 100no, he has 457 runs @ 457 in the past 12 days. Eye-popping stuff! @EssendonCC pic.twitter.com/SzzNFkd1iu

— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) February 10, 2019

James Seymour launches for Essendon.

Josh McDonald (Geelong)

A free-scoring wicketkeeper-batsman, McDonald is averaging 54 in Premier Cricket at just under a-run-a-ball. He showed his striking ability with 126 from 112 balls against a formidable Melbourne Uni attack before Christmas.

Josh McDonald scores at a quick rate for Geelong.

Evan Gulbis (Carlton)

The all-rounder has played in the BBL before for Hobart and Melbourne Stars. He could hardly have done more to earn another opportunity, scoring the most runs in the Vic Super Slam last season (322 runs, strike rate 173) and taking 10 wickets.

Evan Gulbis was the premier player in last summer’s Vic Super Slam.

Jonathan Merlo was previously in Melbourne Stars’ squad.

Jon Merlo (St Kilda)

Another player with previous BBL experience with the Renegades’ cross-town rivals Melbourne Stars. His St Kilda skipper Adam Crosthwaite thinks Merlo will be a long-term player for Victoria. He’s averaging just under 80 this season at a strike rate of 88.

Blake Thomson (Melbourne)

A player who was earmarked for the next level after starring at the under-19 national carnival several years ago, the ex-Victorian rookie has been one of the best Premier batsmen in the past 18 months. Thomson amassed 719 runs last summer and already has 225 runs to his name in 2020-21.

Blake Thomson has been one of Victoria’s most prolific batsmen in the past 18 months.

Ian Holland (Ringwood)

Another all-rounder the Renegades could consider if they want experience. He’s a Ryder Medal winner who scores big runs and takes wickets consistently for Ringwood. He made 123 from 116 balls and took 3-43 in his most recent outing.

All-rounder Ian Holland has long been one of Victorian Premier Cricket’s best players.

Liam Blackford (Geelong)

Considered one of the best batting prospects in the country, the 16-year-old made his First XI debut for Geelong earlier this season. The Renegades have already debuted Noor Ahmad at 15 this year — why not get another prodigy into the squad?

Liam Blackford is considered one of the state’s best batting prospects.

Eddy O’Sullivan (Carlton)

Gulbis — his Carlton captain — is convinced O'Sullivan has the tools to make the step up to the BBL. The left-arm tweaker only conceded five runs an over in last season’s Vic Super Slam, taking eight wickets. He didn't concede more than 22 runs in three four-over spells at the National T20 Championships.

Evan Gulbis is confident Eddy O’Sullivan could make the jump to the BBL.

And one from interstate:

Josh Brown (Northern Districts, QLD)

Brown is considered one of the best hitters in Queensland Premier Cricket. He launched 252 runs with a strike rate of 189 in QLD’s Premier T20 competition this season and 272 runs with a strike rate of 230 last season. James Bazley has shown the step up from Queensland grade cricket to the BBL can be made successfully.