Photo Credit: Melbourne Renegades
New recruit Tom Rogers headlines a group of eight players with Big Bash experience in the Melbourne Renegades Academy squad for next month’s CDU Top End T20 Tournament in Darwin.
Rogers will be joined in the squad of 14 players by six members of the Renegades’ BBL|11 squad, plus former Renegade – and BBL|08 title winner – Chris Tremain.
Young guns Mackenzie Harvey and Will Sutherland will share the captaincy duties, with the team to be coached by BBL Head Coach, David Saker.
Jake Fraser-McGurk, Zak Evans, Jack Prestwidge and James Seymour also feature, having played for the Renegades last season.
Alongside the group of players with Big Bash experience, the Renegades Academy squad also features some emerging Victorian-contracted players and standout Premier Cricket performers.
All-rounder Fergus O’Neill – who made his Victorian debut last summer – has also been picked, alongside new Victorian rookie Campbell Kellaway.
Casey-South Melbourne leg-spinner Ruwantha Kellapotha and Northcote all-rounder Jack Lalor – both part of the 2021-22 Premier Cricket Team of the Year – headline the list of Premier players.
“This tournament provides us with the opportunity to get some added match practice into our BBL-listed players and look at some other players of interest ahead of the season,” Melbourne Renegades General Manager, James Rosengarten, said.
“It’s pleasing to have some of our talented, emerging BBL players in this Academy squad, alongside new recruit Tom Rogers for his first run in Renegades colours.
“Mackenzie Harvey and Will Sutherland will share the captaincy role. Both have experience leading Australian underage teams and this is a great development opportunity for them as we continue to invest in our future.
“We still have a couple of list spots available for BBL|12 – so these games are not only a chance for our head coach, David Saker, to work closely with our contracted players but also to cast his eye over others who might be in contention for a list spot.”
The Renegades will begin their campaign on Saturday 13 August against the Stars Academy. Each of the five teams will play each other once, with the top two teams to play off in a Final on Sunday 21 August.
Matches will be live-streamed via the MyCricket Facebook page and NT Cricket YouTube channel.
Match coverage will be available via the Melbourne Renegades’ social platforms.
Melbourne Renegades Academy Squad:
Mackenzie Harvey – captain
Will Sutherland – captain
Zak Evans
Jake Fraser-McGurk
Tom Jackson
Ruwantha Kellapotha
Campbell Kellaway
Jack Lalor
Fergus O’Neill
Jack Prestwidge
Tom Rogers
James Seymour
Chris Tremain
Kyle Williamson
CDU Top End T20 – Fixtures:
Saturday 13 August: Renegades Academy v Stars Academy, 6pm ACST at DXC Arena
Monday 15 August: Cricket Australia XI v Renegades Academy, 6pm ACST at DXC Arena
Wednesday 17 August: Northern Territory v Renegades Academy, 6pm ACST at DXC Arena
Saturday 20 August: Renegades Academy v Papua New Guinea, 6pm ACST at DXC Arena
Sunday 21 August: Final – 1st v 2nd, 2.30pm ACST at Gardens Oval
Name of Author: Melbourne Renegades
Melbourne Renegades are an Australian professional men’s Twenty20 franchise cricket club based in Melbourne, Australia. They compete in the Australian Twenty20 cricket competition, the Big Bash League.
