Photo Credit: Melbourne Renegades
Victorian duo Nicole Faltum and Milly Illingworth have crossed to redder pastures, joining the Melbourne Renegades ahead of WBBL|10.
Former Stars, the pair have joined the Gades on one and two-year deals respectively.
Faltum, a talented and experienced wicketkeeper, arrives after requesting a trade and will take the gloves in the absence of Josie Dooley who continues her recent health battle.
“Having Nicole and Milly join us is a significant boost for our squad,” General Manager, James Rosengarten, said.
“Nicole brings invaluable experience and leadership, while Milly’s raw talent and pace will be exciting to watch.
“Our goal is to identify and bring into our squad as much talent as possible, and the addition of Nicole and Milly is a big step in that direction.”
Melbourne Renegades WBBL|14 Squad (to date):
Josie Dooley, Nicole Faltum, Ella Hayward, Milly Illingworth, Hayley Matthews, Sophie Molineux, Georgia Wareham, Courtney Webb.
Faltum’s move marks a homecoming for the talented and experienced wicketkeeper.
The 24-year-old supported the Renegades growing up as junior cricketer from Traralgon before joining the Gades in WBBL|02 as a rookie.
She was signed to the Melbourne Stars primary list the following season, a move which coincided with a state contract for Victoria, and she’s been a mainstay behind the stumps ever since.
At her young age she’s a veteran of 80 matches for the Stars, including a season as captain in the absence of Meg Lanning, while she’s also been in the eyeline of Australian selectors having represented Australia A and Governor-General’s XI.
She’s been awarded the Sharon Tredrea Medal (Victoria’s best player) three years running.
“The Renegades are home for me in a lot of ways I’m super keen to join the girls and get stuck into the season,” Faltum said.
“I’ve always kept an eye on my Victorian teammates in red so to now play alongside the likes of Soph (Molineux) and Georgia (Wareham) with, of course, Milly, is exciting.
“I was lucky enough to get a lot of playing opportunities early in my career and I’m grateful for it, but now I’m looking forward to drawing upon that experience in red now and hopefully contribute to some success at the Gades.”
Illingworth is an exciting, young fast bowler from Port Campbell on Victoria’s south-west coast.
With her slingy action, raw pace and formidable bumper, Illingworth honed her skills at the esteemed women’s club Essendon Maribyrnong Park in Melbourne.
In early 2023, she represented Australia at the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa before making her WNCL and WBBL debut
“I’m really excited for the change and to get started,” Illingworth said.
“I was so fortunate to debut for the Stars last season and have learned a lot from bowling with Kim (Garth) and Annabel (Sutherland) but when the opportunity came up at the Stars I grabbed it with both arms.
“There’s so much talent and depth in this squad, I’m confident we can really do some damage in WBBL|10.”
The pair couldn’t wait to face the old side in their two matches this season, 9 November at CitiPower Centre and 15 November at the MCG.
“You always want to see your close friends do well, but once we cross that white line it’ll be on,” Faltum added.
The pair’s arrival follows Hayley Matthews who remains with the squad for a third consecutive season as the club’s pre-draft international signing.
