Melbourne Renegades Bolster Batting Line-up with New Zealand Star Tim Seifert for the Next Two Big Bash Leagues
In a major signing, the Melbourne Renegades have secured the services of New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert for the next two editions of the Big Bash League (BBL). The 29-year-old Kiwi will be available for the entire duration of the tournament, providing the Renegades with valuable continuity as they look to bounce back from a seventh-place finish last season.
Seifert’s BBL deal means he will miss at least part of the Super Smash, New Zealand’s domestic T20 competition, as well as the white-ball series against Pakistan during the Christmas-New Year period. However, the Renegades are thrilled to have secured his services, with the player expressing his excitement at the prospect of becoming a “Gade” for the next couple of seasons.
“That top three spot would be outstanding and if Cam [White] feels like I’m the man to take the gloves, I’ll be ready for that too. At the same time, I’m ready to fit in and play whatever role Whitey and the Renegades need me to play,” Seifert said, expressing his eagerness to contribute to the team’s success.
Seifert, who has played 3 ODIs and 61 T20Is for New Zealand, has also been a regular in franchise cricket around the world. In his T20 career, he has averaged 27.43 at a strike rate of 130.12, including three centuries. Just last month, he finished as the leading run-scorer in the Lanka Premier League, amassing 400 runs at an impressive average of 57.14 and a strike rate of 135.13.
The Renegades’ general manager, James Rosengarten, highlighted Seifert’s dual threat as both a powerful batter and an established international keeper, a valuable addition to the team’s roster. With Seifert’s full availability, the Renegades have secured a top-class overseas player, retaining their prized Platinum pick in the upcoming BBL draft.
Seifert Expected to Form Formidable Top-Three
Seifert is expected to form a formidable top-three alongside recently acquired Josh Brown (from Brisbane Heat) and Jake Fraser-McGurk. The Kiwi keeper-batter is also a frontrunner to take the gloves, with the Renegades having shared the role between overseas signings Quinton de Kock and Jordan Cox last season.
The BBL draft is scheduled for September 1, with the Renegades holding picks 2, 10, 23, and 26.
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