Exclusive: Renegades contemplate local-overseas balance

Cricket365
May 5, 2014

Chief executive officer Stuart Coventry is eager to see director of cricket Tom Moody and head coach Simon Helmot strike a balance across the Melbourne Renegades' squad for this year's Big Bash League.

Moody and Helmot are currently working together during the Sunrisers Hyderabad's 2014 Indian Premier League campaign, before the latter travels west for Trinidad and Tobago's Caribbean Premier League venture.

Former Sri Lanka coach Moody, in the interim, will contemplate and compose the bulk of the Renegades' collective for the third edition of the BBL – Australia's premier Twenty20 tournament.

"We probably should do from an international point of view, a bit of talent scouting. We have two international stars in the XI and four on the list, so we're looking into that. But the main thing for us is trying to identify the best domestic talent available in Australia, not just for the season but for the coming years too," Coventry told Cricket365.

West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo enjoyed a fruitful, albeit brief stint, with Melbourne earlier this year. A quickfire 47 and two key wickets brought an important win over the Adelaide Strikers and a commanding 38 and the dismissal of the dangerous Jordan Silk afforded some consolation in a tight loss to the Sydney Sixers.

"Bravo is definitely someone we would consider. We haven't made any firm decisions on our international stars. As time goes on, June or July, when we make some announcements, we will continue to look at it – and try and get the best available," added Coventry.

Batsman Aaron Finch, meanwhile, will keep the captaincy. The left-handed Ben Rohrer was named stand-in skipper toward the end of the tourney in January, when Finch was on international duty against England. Rohrer gathered a victory and a defeat, with the additional responsibility not detracting from his primary role in the middle order.

"Aaron is a terrific captain. He has a lot of maturity for a young fellow. Ben, too, is a great skipper. Different guys, different styles – but we will keep behind Aaron and hopefully he can keep it going at international level too," concluded Coventry.

Jonhenry Wilson