BBL15 draft: Coach Cameron White on Renegades’ draft priorities

The BBL draft this week is being held more than five months before the season starts — and that’s left clubs facing a unique challenge to get their selections right.

Melbourne Renegades are poised to target a batting linchpin in the BBL draft as they hunt their first title in six seasons.

The Renegades have been one of the most active franchises this off-season, securing quicks Jason Behrendorff (Scorchers) and Brendan Doggett (Strikers) and luring opener Caleb Jewell from Hobart Hurricanes.

Jewell will add depth to one of the BBL’s most potent batting line-ups, headlined by power hitters Jake Fraser-McGurk, Josh Brown and Tim Seifert.

Last season the Renegades drafted English rising star Jacob Bethell to complement that trio, but he is destined to be unavailable for most of BBL15 due to Ashes duties.

“Someone that is sort of potentially an all-format player,” coach Cameron White said.

“Flexible with situations where they can bat in the line-up and someone, you know, (when) faced with a problem … just be able to adapt to a situation.”

Jacob Bethell will miss most of the BBL due to Ashes duties.

Bethell has become an important part of Enlgland’s Test squad.

With Mackenzie Harvey and Jon Wells out of contract, a middle-order batter shapes as a priority for the Renegades.

Pakistani all-rounder Shadab Khan and Englishmen Sam Curran and Dan Lawrence headline the players the Renegades could consider.

They also have the option of retaining Laurie Evans, although the former Scorchers hero’s first summer in Melbourne was one to forget.

White said the Renegades had scoured talent worldwide to find a batter who could provide bowling support, as Bethell did last season.

“We don’t want to go into a game with just straight up five bowlers,” he said.

“In today’s day and age the way T20 cricket is played, it’s bloody tough work to expect that 10 games out of 10 all five bowlers are just going to bowl four overs.

“The ability to have a sixth bowler is important for us. That’s definitely a factor going into the draft, a really important one.”

The Renegades are expecting Jake Fraser-McGurk to bounce back in a big way.

New Zealander Seifert was the Renegades’ leading run scorer in BBL14 with 200 runs, followed by Bethell (195) and skipper Will Sutherland (191).

Fraser-McGurk is set to be locked in to the No.3 role as he looks to put himself back in the international reckoning.

“I think one of the misconceptions around Jake is he probably comes across and the way he plays, a bit like Glenn Maxwell in a way, they can really cop a fair bit of criticism because they are such flamboyant players and sometimes when they get out it doesn’t look the best,” White said.

“But I can assure you from Jake’s point-of-view, he ticks all the boxes.”

Thursday’s international draft will be held earlier than it ever has in the year — and more than five months before the start of BBL15.

“It’s something we are weighing up from a coaching point-of-view,” White said.

“To be mindful of the here and now, the players doing well in the Blast (England’s T20 tournament), versus potentially the better player who’s not actually playing cricket at the moment.

“It’s a fine line to try and judge the talent or the role you’re after. It makes for good debate between the coaching staff anyway.”

The Renegades have the third pick in the draft’s first round behind Brisbane Heat (pick one) and Adelaide Strikers (pick two).

Melbourne Stars’ first selection is No.7.

SURPRISE ENGLAND CALL-UP LEAVES STRIKERS SCRAMBLING

Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes will have a huge say on Adelaide Strikers’ plans for this summer as they face the possibility of star all-rounder Jamie Overton being selected for the Ashes.

Overton was a surprise inclusion in England’s squad for its series against India which starts this week, more than three years after playing his only Test against New Zealand.

The 31-year-old has been the linchpin of Adelaide’s side for the past two BBL campaigns, taking 27 wickets and scoring 276 runs in 18 matches.

“We were kind of already planning towards that potential anyway given the way we know that Brendon and Ben want to play their cricket,” Strikers coach Tim Paine said.

“I feel like Jamie’s a pretty good cricketer, particularly in Australian conditions. I think his bowling will come into its own here.

Jamie Overton is a chance to feature in England’s Ashes squad.

Overton has been a key figure for the Strikers in the past two seasons.

“Someone who’s as tall as he is and as quick as he is, I think we can be a real weapon for England in the Ashes, with both bat and ball.

“He’s clearly a super aggressive batter as well, which they love. For his size he’s super agile and good in the field. He’s a great package for England cricket and I’m sure when he plays this week, hopefully, and if he does come out for the Ashes he’ll do a great job.”

While Overton will be selected in Thursday’s BBL draft, Paine conceded the Strikers were already working on contingency plans.

“We have got lots of contingency options and a lot of that will centre around Jamie because that can change the whole set-up of our team,” he said.

Overton was called up due to fellow all-rounder Gus Atkinson’s hamstring injury.

The Strikers are expected to target a pace bowler or all-rounder in the international draft, having lost Test squad member Brendan Doggett to Melbourne Renegades.

Jake Weatherald (Hurricanes) has also departed, with breakout all-rounder Liam Scott and South Australian Sheffield Shield hero Jason Sangha set for middle-order roles in BBL15.

The former Test captain said he was eyeing more coaching opportunities as he approaches his second season in charge of Adelaide.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my first year in charge of the Strikers. Probably a bit more stressful than being the assistant, which was an absolute blast, I must admit” he said.

“I’ve got a real taste for it now. I think probably 12 months ago when I was starting out you’re never quite sure how you’re going to go or how you’re going to react when you’re in that seat. I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

“For me now, it’s about filling up the calendar, getting some more experiences under my belt – whether it’s as an assistant or a head coach in other programs – and just trying to get as many hours in coaching as I possibly can.

“Loving doing the role with the Strikers and can’t wait to get back there in sort of December this year.”