The Cricketer's in-depth look at the Renegades ahead of the new campaign, including player analysis, strengths, weaknesses, and full squad and fixtures listings
Coach: David Saker
The Victorian returned to the helm in June 2021 but has been unable to complete an about-turn in the team's fortunes - the run of eighth-place finishes continued last term. He will hope to bring the good vibes from being part of England's backroom team at the T20 World Cup. A fast-bowling expert, having spent time coaching England, Australia, United States and Sri Lanka's quick down the years.
Captain: Nic Maddinson
Maddinson was thrown the captaincy shortly before last season after skipper Aaron Finch called time on his nine-year tenure. After another troubled season, the 29-year-old has the chance to stamp his mark on the role in 2022/23. The Renegades BBL opener against Brisbane Heat will be Maddinson's 100th appearance. Kane Richardson takes the vice-captain role after being a spare part in Australia's T20 World Cup campaign sparely.
Overseas stars
Andre Russell: The West Indies T20 legend returns to the Renegades after first representing the team at BBL04. Russell was overlooked at the overseas draft in August but signed a short-term contract with the Renegades as a replacement for Liam Livingstone, whose spell has now been pulled altogether.
Russell has struggled for form recently and only registered a score above 10 once in nine T10 League outings. In 24 Big Bash games he still has a strike rate of 164.07 and 379 runs in 22 innings. With the ball, Russell has managed 26 wickets at an average of 27.31. These days, his reputation goes before him, which is part of the problem.
Martin Guptill: A late replacement for Livingstone after turning his back on New Zealand, he is available for the final 10 games of the regular season from December 28. Guptill has only played one game in the BBL previously, for the Sydney Thunder against Sixers in December 2012. Inside the top 20 men's T20 run-scorers, above the likes of Babar Azam, Quinton de Kock and Glenn Maxwell, the 36-year-old is a classic, no-nonsense opener who should thrive in the conditions.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman: Picked up in the draft after a handful of seasons for Brisbane Heat, where he took 37 wickets in as many matches. A regular on the T20 franchise circuit but some of his best form has come in the BBL, and Renegades will hope that continues. He doesn't turn 22 until March 2023 but will bring up 200 T20 appearances during the competition.
Akeal Hosein: The West Indies spinner is a two-time CPL winner, and an economical left-armer. But without a great record in Australia and due to depart for the ILT20 midway through the tournament, it remains to be seen what sort of impact he will have. Opportunities with the bat are often limited, but he showed great power when smashing a career-best 44 not out against England in Bridgetown earlier this year.
Ruwantha Kellapotha: The uncapped Sri Lankan has spent much of his time in Australia over the last nine years and will act as back-up to the senior internationals in the Renegades' spin arsenal. He came to their attention during academy sessions in Darwin and while playing in Victoria's Premier Cricket. Has made two Sheffield Shield outings for Victoria this summer.
Melbourne Renegades captain Nic Maddinson [Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images]
Changes from 2021/22
The introduction of the overseas draft provided Renegades with the opportunity to freshen up their options from afar. England T20 World Cup winner Livingstone was their No.1 pick and headline addition, but Russell and Guptill will now attempt to make up for his absence. Mujeeb arrives with four seasons worth of experience from Heat and Hosein bolsters the spin ranks. Kellapotha has been signed up as an overseas replacement. Marcus Harris hasn't played in the BBL since January 2020 but has committed to this season, but James Pattinson has departed despite having a year to run on his Gades deal.
How did they do in 2021/22?
It was another awful campaign from Renegades, who propped up the table for the third campaign in a row since they won the title in 2018/19. They have lost 31 of their last 42 matches and it took until January 3 for them to reach two victories for the campaign. "After the three years we've had, the performances aren't really good enough," reflected Saker towards the end of last term.
Best finish: Champions (BBL08)
BATTING
Power hitters
At his best, Russell is most powerful and destructive hitter in world cricket and has the ability to clear any boundary. His overall strike rate of almost 170 in T20s shows his staggering power - of those to face a minimum of 250 balls, only five players score faster. Guptill is a prodigious run scorer and though he has slipped out of the New Zealand reckoning, replaced by the more aggressive Finn Allen, he should bring reliability to the top three.
Anchor
Shaun Marsh is a undisputed BBL great and has donned the Renegades red since 2019 when he moved from Perth Scorchers. Just shy of 40 now, Marsh may not be able to clear the rope as freely as he used to but with 2,398 runs in the competition at a healthy average of just under 40 there will pressure on him to get the big scores with power hitters around him.
Captain Maddinson is someone else to look out for. He made his name in the BBL with explosive innings for the Sydney Sixes but with the responsibility of leadership and his development as a heavy Sheffield Shield run-scorer, we may see a more measured approach in this competition.
Finisher
In Jon Wells, the Renegades have signed one of the most impressive Big Bash batters ever. He is the fourth-highest run scorer in Big Bash history and at 34 shows no signs of slowing down after another fruitful campaign with the Strikers last season. He plays the Australian conditions particularly well and as a finisher he prefers to manipulate the gaps and runs hard rather than regularly hitting boundaries. His 40 sixes are the fewest of the top dozen run-scorers in the BBL - evidence of a smart cricketer and a canny addition.
Problem areas
The form of their key batters is a concern. They finished bottom of the table last year and must improve. In Finch, they have one of the best in T20 history, but his form has fallen off a cliff over the last year. Though they have invested heavily in experience, is there enough dynamism and new ideas among the line-up? Finch, Guptill, Russell, Marsh, Handscomb, Harris feels like an order from a bygone age.
Jon Wells has joined Melbourne Renegades from Adelaide Strikers [Darrian Traynor/Getty Images]
BOWLING
Speed merchants
Kane Richardson is the leader of the Renegades attack. A peripheral member of Australia's disappointing World Cup campaign, he made a single outing against Afghanistan in Adelaide. Richardson has 117 Big Bash wickets at an economy rate of under eight but will feel the weight is on his shoulders to carry an inexperienced seam attack for the duration of the competition. He is known for his changes of pace which makes him an effective death bowler in the shortest format.
Variation
The Renegades are not short in the spin department and have left-arm, mystery spin, wrist spin and off-spin in their ranks. This is despite losing Cameron Boyce to the Strikers after he claimed 10 wickets last term. Three of the spin options are overseas with Hosein and Mujeeb boasting international experience but are only available for part of the season. The pressure will then shift to Kellapotha who is in unchartered territory.
Problem areas
The entire Renegades bowling attack looks short of depth and quality. Of last season's top four wicket-takers only one, Richardson, returns for 2022/23. They will be stung by withdrawals during the back end and haven't properly covered for the absence of Russell, Hosein or Mujeeb. More overs will be demanded of the likes of Will Sutherland, Jack Prestwidge and Maddinson and that comes with its own risk.
Kane Richardson leads the Renegades bowling attack [Mike Owen/Getty Images]
Who takes the gloves?
Sam Harper is the designated keeper and only three have more than his 45 BBL dismissals. Peter Handscomb's arrival will provide a selection dilemma.
Squad: Zak Evans, Aaron Finch, Akeal Hosein, Liam Livingstone (withdrawn), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sam Harper, Mackenzie Harvey, Nic Maddinson (c), Shaun Marsh, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Kane Richardson, Tom Rogers, Will Sutherland, Jon Wells, Jack Prestwidge, Ruwantha Kellapotha, Marcus Harris, Andre Russell (replacing Liam Livingstone, first four matches only), Martin Guptill (replacing Liam Livingstone, 10 group matches and finals), Corey Rocchiccioli, Peter Handscomb
Fixtures: December 15 – Brisbane Heat (Cazaly's Stadium, 8.15am GMT), December 18 - Sydney Thunder (Marvel Stadium, 8.15am), December 21 - Brisbane Heat (GMHBA Stadium, 8.15am), December 24 - Hobart Hurricanes (Blundstone Arena, 4.30am), December 28 - Sydney Sixers (SCG, 8.15am), December 30 - Sydney Sixers (GMHBA Stadium, 7.30am), January 1 - Perth Scorchers (Marvel Stadium, 2.40am), January 3 - Melbourne Stars (MCG, 8.15am), January 7 - Hobart Hurricanes (Marvel Stadium, 7.05am); January 10 - Adelaide Strikers (Adelaide Oval, 8.40am), January 14 - Melbourne Stars (Marvel Stadium, 8.30am), January 19 - Sydney Thunder (Manuka Oval, 8.15am), January 22 - Perth Scorchers (Optus Stadium, 8.15am) January 24 - Adelaide Strikers (Marvel Stadium, 8.15am)
Possible starting XI: Aaron Finch, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Shaun Marsh, Nic Maddinson, Andre Russell, Will Sutherland, Akeal Hosein, Kane Richardson, Zab Evans, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
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