Men’s Big Bash League Draft 2024: Melbourne Renegades poach Perth Scorchers gun

The Renegades shocked the Men’s BBL draft as they poached a Scorchers gun, while crosstown rivals added much needed batting firepower with an English star. As, the Hurricanes shook up the women’s draft.

The Melbourne Renegades have poached Laurie Evans after the Perth Scorchers were priced out of retaining the English dynamo in Sunday’s Big Bash League draft.

Evans’ batting firepower has been pivotal for the Scorchers in recent season but they ceded his services across the Nullarbor in a coup for new Renegades coach Cameron White.

Evans was the third player taken overall after the Melbourne Stars - as flagged by this masthead - picked England Test opener Ben Duckett at pick No. 1 to bolster their batting.

As expected, the Renegades sought to pinch James Vince from the Sydney Sixers at pick No. 2, however the Sixers opted to match the bid for their top order stalwart. That gave the Renegades a second go at their first pick, and Evans would not slip through their grasp.

“We love Laurie, he’s been brilliant for us…(but) we ran the risk of one of the other teams picking him up,” Perth coach Adam Voges told Channel Seven.

Laurie Evans is leaving the Scorchers. Picture: Getty Images

“Unfortunately we didn’t have the salary cap to match at platinum.”

Sydney Thunder opted for Lockie Ferguson at pick No. 4 following the New Zealand speedster’s recent call to turn down a central contract.

Ricky Ponting’s Hobart Hurricanes selected West Indian batter Shai Hope at pick No. 5, before a run of clubs using their pre-draft signings - under rules implemented this year - or retaining players.

Having landed a relatively cheap pre-signing in Tim Seifert, the Renegades had a second live pick at No. 10, picking emerging England all-rounder Jacob Bethell.

The Thunder didn’t pick Alex Hales. Picture: Getty Images

Adelaide and Brisbane respectively retained English all-rounders Jamie Overton and Paul Walter after making strong impressions last season.

The Scorchers sprung a surprise in the third round, recruiting young English wicketkeeper Matthew Hurst, while the Hurricanes picked Bangladeshi spinner Rishad Hossain late.

Big-name overseas quicks Jofra Archer, Lungi Ngidi and Shamar Joseph were all bypassed amid doubts over their respective availability. They could yet be signed as replacement players closer to the season.

The Thunder also opted against selecting long-time opener Alex Hales.

Sophie Ecclestone will stay at the Sixers. Picture: Phil Hillyard

WBBL draft: Aggressive Hurricanes force issue in dramatic opening

Fourth time was the charm for the Hobart Hurricanes, who dramatically shaped the first round of Sunday’s Women’s Big Bash League draft.

Holding the first pick of the overseas player selection meet in Melbourne, the Hurricanes ensured half of the eight clubs needed to decide whether to activate retention rights.

The Hurricanes - who have never won the league - clearly weren’t going to die wondering this time around. With successive chances of the arm they picked English spinner Sophie Ecclestone, veteran compatriot Heather Knight and gun South African batter Laura Wolvaardt. All three were matched by their previous clubs: the Sydney Sixers, Sydney Thunder and Adelaide Strikers respectively.

Sophie Ecclestone is staying at the Sixers for the summer. Picture: Getty Images

But the Hurricanes eventually broke through with pick four, nabbing Danni Wyatt after the Perth Scorchers decided against using their rights to hold the England batter.

Hobart coach Jude Coleman said on the Channel Seven broadcast that the Hurricanes had acted in part with a view to forcing the issue in the latter rounds of the draft, but that it had been worth asking the question of players they were never likely to land.

“You’ve always got a chance don’t you…it’s also a little bit strategic,” Coleman said.

Thunder boss Trent Copeland said his club was always going to match a bid on Knight.

With pick No. 5, the Melbourne Renegades paired West Indian Deandra Dottin with international teammate Hayley Matthews.

Deandra Dottin will be at the Renegades for the summer. Picture: Getty Images

Crosstown rivals the Stars picked up Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma, while the Brisbane Heat opted for Jemimah Rodrigues before the Scorchers concluded the first round with New Zealand great Sophie Devine, who had been pre-signed via a mechanism introduced this year.

Adelaide passed in the second round, meaning that the Strikers had landed pre-signing Smriti Mandhana with a silver band selection, a bargain orchestrated by coach Luke Williams’ pre-existing relationship with the Indian superstar.

The Renegades poached England young gun Alice Capsey - retention eligible to the Stars - in the third round.

Originally published as Men’s Big Bash League Draft 2024: Melbourne Renegades poach Perth Scorchers gun