Melbourne Renegades call on Cameron White for semi-final clash with the Sydney Sixers
Mohammad Nabi had a huge impact on the Melbourne Renegades. However, with the Afghan star now on national duties, team ‘Get on Red’ have turned to Cameron White to lead them to their first BBL semi-final win. Can he pull it off?
Big Bash
Don't miss out on the headlines from Big Bash. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Melbourne Renegades have turned to Cameron White to replace Afghan star Mohammad Nabi as captain Aaron Finch prepares to play his first Big Bash semi-final in 2191 days.
Renegades are the only franchise still chasing a semi-final win but were gifted a home fixture by Sydney Sixers’ capitulation at the MCG last Sunday.
“It’s nice to get that home final. It’s not something we expected but it puts us in a nice spot to play in some familiar conditions,” Finch said.
BAD BLOW: AUSSIE QUICK WON’T RETURN TIL CUP EVE
HOW? BIZARRE BLUNDER BAFFLES CRICKET LEGENDS
PENALTY: QUICK PAYS HEFTY PRICE FOR ROOT SLEDGE
“We’re here to win it. We’re not just here to compete and try and make the final — we’re here to win the final.”
Finch and wife Amy were dining with Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh and their partners as Renegades jumped Sydney on net run-rate in the final BBL game of the season.
Renegades have won 59 per cent of matches where Finch has scored more than 20 runs.
But that drops to 35 per cent when Finch makes less than 20.
Sixers spinner Steve O’Keefe said Ben Dwarshuis was swinging the new ball and ripe to break the Finch-Marcus Harris opening partnership.
Dwarshuis has career figures of 1/11 (11 balls) against Harris and 0/19 (18) against Finch.
Banned batsman Steve Smith has been helping Sixers at training recently as they shoot for their fourth Grand Final in eight seasons.
Both clubs have just one international — Harry Gurney (Renegades) and James Vince (Sixers) — although Finch said they wouldn’t have been able to find a replacement for Nabi even if it was in the rules.
Finch sensed Afghanistan was going to summon Nabi to India a few weeks ago despite Afghanistan’s series against Ireland not starting until next Thursday
But Finch was confident White — who is averaging 17.7 runs this season as he falls out of contract — would power up the middle order after overcoming a hamstring strain.
“He’s world-class at this game when he’s at his absolute best,” Finch said.
“He has so much experience in the T20 format. I don’t think it’s the last you’ll see of him for sure.
“He’s proved himself over a long period of time and he’s proved every time he’s been doubted he’s come out and performed really well under pressure.”
Sixer Sean Abbott said his team was No. 1 in the BBL for running ones and twos and was confident that suited Marvel Stadium, where they restricted Renegades to 9/99 in December.
“It’s really hard to hit boundaries along the ground because the outfield is so slow,” captain Moises Henriques said.
Spinner Ben Manenti joined O’Keefe and Nathan Lyon in their 13-man squad after taking 2/13 (four overs) in that win.
Finch has given Sam Harper a licence to play “ultra-aggressive” and wants his team to target Manenti early to drain the 21-year-old’s confidence.
O’Keefe said the Sixers aim to concede fewer than 50 runs from the final five overs while scoring more than 50 themselves.
RENEGADES v SIXERS
Friday 7.40pm at Marvel Stadium
GAME NUMBERS
*Average first-innings winning score at Marvel Stadium is 153 runs in the past two seasons
*Sixers have won their past three games at Marvel Stadium
CAPTAIN’S CORNER
— AARON FINCH’S NOTES
*Avoid letting Chris Tremain bowl at Moises Henriques or Daniel Hughes. Henriques has blasted 38 runs off 18 Tremain balls while Hughes has scored 0/27 off 14 balls.
*Dan Christian the batsman has smashed 0/26 off 12 Ben Dwarshuis balls and Dan Christian the bowler has taken 2/11 (11 balls) against Daniel Hughes.
— MOISES HENRIQUES’ NOTES
* Steve O’Keefe has taken 2/1 (seven balls) against Dan Christian and 2/2 (eight balls) against No. 3 Sam Harper. Bring on the former Test spinner when they are at the crease.
* Nathan Lyon will be a fresh test for the Renegades. Only Aaron Finch (0/19 off 24 balls) has seen much of him at T20 level.
FINCH ON THE PITCH
“A couple of times we’ve over clubbed and gone a little bit hard and looked for 170-180 when in reality it might be a 160 wicket, going back a few games. I’m confident it’ll be a pretty good wicket.”
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Sixers lead 5-4
Sixers lead 3-1 at Marvel Stadium
BBL SEMI-FINAL RECORD
Renegades 0-2
Sixers 3-1
TAB ODDS
Renegades $1.75
Sixers $2.10
THE TIPS
Sam Landsberger — RENEGADES
With a better wicket under an open roof the stage is set for Aaron Finch to take down Test great Nathan Lyon and blast the Renegades into their first ever BBL Grand Final.
Shane Warne — RENEGADES
Mark Waugh (Fox Sports) — RENEGADES
Brendan Julian (Fox Sports) — RENEGADES
Every Test, ODI & T20I live, ad-break free during play and in 4K. Only on Foxtel. SIGN UP NOW!
‘Exciting’ Sheffield Shield hero signs for Strikers
It’s a BBL recruiting coup for the Adelaide T20 side, writes Andrew Capel.
New boss’s plan to fix the cricket’s dumbest rule, defends Khawaja
The Cricket Australia CEO opens up to BEN HORNE about the biggest issues in the game, including Will Pucovski’s retirement, Usman Khawaja’s Shield controversy, and privatising the BBL.