With the AFL season long done and dusted, Marvel Stadium is gearing up for a new round of sporting moments with the return of the Big Bash League, as the Melbourne Renegades begin another season. Led by a new coach and a new captain, there’s a fresh look to the team that fans are hoping will translate into a second-ever BBL title. To get you prepped for the new season, here’s our full guide to the Melbourne Renegades in BBL 2024-25.
Who is in the Melbourne Renegades squad for BBL 2024-25?
Expect explosiveness from the very top of the order, as last season’s breakout star Jake Fraser-McGurk returns having parlayed his success into stints with the Australian one-day team and in the IPL with Delhi Capitals. He’ll be one of the team’s key strengths — forming a fearsome partnership with Josh Brown, who signed after a title-winning stint with Brisbane Heat — with the other being the vastly experience spin duo of Nathan Lyon and Adam Zampa (who arrives via a trade with the Melbourne Stars). Laurie Evans has plenty of experience from his time with the Perth Scorchers, whilst the wily Kane Richardson should prove a slippery pace prospect once more. Will Sutherland steps up from vice-captain duties last season to lead the team.
Batters: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Tim Seifert (wk), Laurie Evans, Josh Brown, Harry Dixon, Mackenzie Harvey, Jon Wells
All-rounders: Jacob Bethell, Will Sutherland (capt)
Bowlers: Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson, Nathan Lyon, Gurinder Sandhu, Fergus O’Neill, Tom Rogers
There’s a new coach in charge for the 2024-25 Big Bash, but he’ll be familiar to Aussie cricket fans: Cameron White took over in June and will be looking to make a flying start at a club he captained five times during his playing career. Amongst his staff is the former England player Ian Bell, who will be tasked with helping the batters put up big scores.
When and where are Melbourne Renegades playing in BBL 14?
The Renegades travel to Sydney for their opening game on December 16, for a matchup with the Sixers, and then play a “home” game in Geelong against the Hobart Hurricanes on December 19. After that, it’s back to their home ground — Marvel Stadium, in the city’s Docklands — for four games in the city:
December 23 vs Perth Scorchers
January 2 vs Adelaide Strikers
January 12 vs Melbourne Stars
January 18 vs Brisbane Heat
Their remaining fixtures on the road are against Sydney Thunder on December 30, across town at the MCG to face the Melbourne Stars on January 4, out to Perth to face the Scorchers on January 7, and down to Hobart to play the Hurricanes on January 14.
How did they do last year?
Not great, if you must ask. With only two wins to their name, and two further games washed out, the Renegades finished seventh out of the BBL’s eight teams last year, with only the Sydney Thunder beneath them. A slow start proved their Achilles heel, as the Renegades failed to register a win until their sixth game of the 2023-24 BBL season. Talk in the dressing room will surely focus on making a better start to this season’s tournament.
How many times have Melbourne Renegades won the Big Bash League?
The 2018-19 season stands out as the most triumphant, as after seven editions of the Big Bash without a final appearance, the Renegades broke through to win it all. Making it especially sweet was the fact that they defeated the Stars in the BBL’s first, and so far only, all-Melbourne final. Times have been a little harder since then, with three consecutive last-place finishes immediately following their only title win.
How does the tournament format work?
Things are nice and simple in the group stage; the eight teams play each other at least once for a total of ten matches (for instance, the Renegades will face off against the Stars and Scorchers twice), with the top four teams at the end of the group stage heading into the knockouts.
From there, the top two teams play each other in the Qualifier match, where the winner goes straight into the final. The third and fourth place teams contest the Knockout match, with the loser eliminated and the winner advancing to the Challenger match to face the team that lost in the Qualifier. Win that match, and you’re in the grand final, lose and you’re out.
Where can I watch the Renegades in the BBL?
Tickets to the Renegades’ home matches are still available, although you’ll want to be fairly quick to nab them. A trio of broadcasters hold the rights to show Big Bash games this year — Channel 7, Foxtel, and Kayo Sports — but not all matches will be free-to-air. Foxtel and Kayo will show all 40 group stage matches to their subscribers, whilst Channel 7 will have 30 group games available for free, including eight out of the ten Renegades games. All four knockout matches will be screened on the three broadcasters, however.