THE Melbourne Renegades will host the Brisbane Heat in their BBL15 season opener at GMHBA Stadium next week.
The game on Monday, December 15 will be the first of two chances for Renegades fans to watch their side in Geelong before the side plays its remaining home games in Melbourne.
After missing out on the finals for the last two seasons, Cameron White’s group will look to start their campaign off strong against a solid Heat squad.
The Renegades had a busy offseason, bringing in consistent pace man Jason Behrendorff from Perth and incumbent Ashes squad member Brendan Doggett from Adelaide. Up and coming batter Caleb Jewell also moved across from Hobart.
Will Sutherland will again captain his side in BBL15 and will lead a bowling attack that boasts Victorian talent Fergus O’Neill, veteran Nathan Lyon and Adam Zampa.
Explosive batter Jake Fraser-McGurk will be one to watch with the bat, with Kardinia Park’s short boundaries well within range should he get going.
There will also be some local talent on display, with young gun Oliver Peake signing his first full time Big Bash contract for this season, while spinner Callum Stow will rejoin the Renegades after impressing last year.
Brisbane had pick one in the draft and took Pakistan speedster Shahid Afridi, who was widely regarded as the biggest name available.
Afridi’s arrival forms a lethal pace lineup alongside Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson and Michael Neser, while Matt Renshaw looms as a key batter for his side.
The Renegades’ clash with the Heat will begin at 7.15pm on Monday.
They will then face Hobart in a Sunday night clash at GMHBA Stadium on December 21.
