BBL newsfile

English legspinning allrounder Matt Critchley has joined the Melbourne Renegades as an overseas replacement player.

Critchley, 26, joins Renegades after a successful T20 Blast competition for Essex, scoring 248 runs at a strike rate of 139.33 and taking 15 wickets in 10 matches.

Critchley also represented the Welsh Fire in The Hundred and was named in the England Lions One-Day squad earlier this week to tour Sri Lanka in February.

Overseas spinners Akeal Hosein and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have completed their nine-match stint for the season.

"We've had our eye on Matt for some time given his hard-hitting and spin-bowling combination. We've got a strong connection with Essex so we know a lot about his game and what he can bring to the Renegades as a bowler, batter, fielder and team-mate," Renegades general manager, James Rosengarten said.

"Mujeeb and Akeal have been world-class. While it’s a shame to see them leave it's exciting to welcome someone with the skillset that Matt provides and we're confident he'll make an impact on the competition."

Critchley joins Ruwantha Kellapotha as an international replacement player in the squad.

Melbourne Renegades have signed Fawad Ahmed as a temporary replacement for injured BBL veteran Shaun Marsh.

Marsh, who missed the start of the season with a calf strain, suffered a low-grade hamstring injury during Tuesday's derby win over the Stars.

The 39-year-old hopes to return late in the campaign, with the fifth-placed Renegades (4-4) firmly in the finals mix.

Ahmed has played 95 BBL matches with four different clubs and returns to the Renegades, where he made his debut during the T20 competition's second season.

The 40-year-old has signed at an important time, with fellow spinners Akeal Hosein and Mujeeb Ur Rahman set to depart the Renegades after Saturday's clash with the Hobart Hurricanes.

"Fawad is a proven performer around the world," Renegades general manager James Rosengarten said. "With our overseas spinners departing after this match we're pleased to sign a player of his calibre to complement our current bowlers."

Melbourne Renegades captain Nic Maddinson has been ruled out for the season and faces an extended period on the sidelines after suffering a ruptured ACL.

Maddinson went down in the field against Perth Scorchers on New Year's Day and subsequent scans have shown the extent of the injury.

Maddinson’s rehabilitation plan will be confirmed over the coming days, following consultations with medical staff from the Melbourne Renegades and Cricket Victoria.

"It's very unfortunate news for Nic, he has been one of the leading batters in the country across the Sheffield Shield over recent years," Cricket Victoria's general manager of cricket, Graham Manou said.

"Nic has also been an outstanding leader within our young squad and I have no doubt he will continue to play that role through his rehabilitation process. We're right behind Nic, we'll provide our full support in any way we can."

Australia's T20 captain Aaron Finch will take on the leadership of Renegades for the remainder of the BBL season. Finch stepped down from the Renegades captaincy in November 2021 after captaining the side for nine BBL seasons

Matthew Wade has been suspended for one BBL game with Tim Paine, the former Australia captain, added to Hobart Hurricanes' squad for the Christmas Eve game against Melbourne Renegades.

Wade picked up one suspension point after incurring three Level 1 Code of Conduct breaches within 18 months. The charges in that period relate to two instances of use of an audible obscenity and one instance of abuse of cricket equipment.

Paine last played BBL in 2018. He returned to professional cricket earlier this year following his break from the game after resigning the Australian Test captaincy days before last season's Ashes.

Sydney Thunder have suffered another BBL blow with skipper Jason Sangha fracturing his collarbone in Sunday night's loss to Melbourne Renegades.

Sangha hurt his left shoulder while diving in the field during Renegades' successful chase. Sangha had an x-ray in Melbourne on Monday which confirmed a fracture in his clavicle [collarbone].

Sangha will see a specialist in Sydney in the next 24 to 48 hours to determine whether surgery is needed but he is unlikely to take any further part in the tournament with the standard recovery for a fractured collarbone taking 6 to 8 weeks.

Chris Green will take over as acting captain for Thunder in Sangha's absence.

“Our thoughts are with Jason,” Green said. “He’s a big part of this team as captain, and an even bigger part as a batter - we saw what he did last year in his damaging role in the top order. He’s a key to our batting line-up.

“The squad is thinking of him at this time because any injury is tough.”

Perth Scorchers have moved quickly to sign English left-arm quick David Payne as a replacement for Tymal Mills.

Payne made his ODI debut for England earlier this year against the Netherlands. He has been very successful in the T20 Blast for Gloucestershire and has played 15 matches for Welsh Fire in the Hundred. Scorchers had looked at taking Payne in the BBL overseas draft as a second left-arm option alongside Jason Behrendorff who is often managed through a BBL season due to his long injury history. But they opted for Mills on a short-term deal after he had played with Scorchers with success last summer.

But when Mills was ruled out of the BBL due to a family emergency, Scorchers immediately contacted Payne. He will join the squad shortly after Christmas and will be available for the remainder of the tournament.

“I feel incredibly excited and lucky," Payne said. "I’ve always followed the Scorchers, with the links we’ve had at Gloucester – Michael Klinger, AJ Tye and Cameron Bancroft. I’ve also recently played in the T10 league with Peter Hatzoglou, so there’s a lot of friendly faces.

“I know how successful Perth are, so to be stepping into their dressing room is incredibly exciting and I can’t wait to get out there. The short notice has made it even more exciting – it’s the best Christmas present ever, to be honest.

“I’ve never played in WA but watched a few games at Optus Stadium and it’s a phenomenal ground. We see and hear that the pitches in Australia are a lot quicker than England, so I’m looking forward to that, and I’m really looking forward to the challenge in general.”

Melbourne Stars have called up James Seymour as an injury replacement player for Joe Burns, who injured his hamstring against the Sydney Thunder and is expected to miss at least four weeks

Seymour previously played nine matches for the Melbourne Renegades in BBL11 and comes to Stars after having made a solid start to the Victorian Premier Cricket season.

"We're wishing Joe a speedy recovery and hope to see him before the end of the tournament but we're looking forward to seeing what James can produce after some promising signs for the Renegades last season," Stars' general manager Blair Crouch.

Burns' hamstring injury, which he attempted to bat on with, hobbling between the wickets, compounded a rough day after he - along with Marcus Stoinis - had tested positive for Covid before the game. Stoinis fell for a first-ball duck and was then unable to field.

Perth Scorchers have suffered another blow ahead of their title defence with fast bowler Tymal Mills ruled out of the tournament following a family emergency.

Mills was set to fly out last weekend but was forced to miss his flight due to the emergency and will remain at home with his family. He was only available for the first eight matches of the season before heading to the ILT20 in the UAE alongside fellow Scorchers overseas signing Adam Lyth.

He will now miss the BBL but it is unclear whether he will play in the UAE. SCorchers have lost all three overseas players that they picked up at the inaugural BBL overseas draft in August. Laurie Evans, who with Mills was a key player in Scorchers' title last season, had his contract terminated after a positive anti-doping test. Phil Salt was ruled out of the BBL due to a shoulder injury. Australia allrounder Mitchell Marsh was also ruled out of the entire BBL after requiring ankle surgery.

Scorchers have secure Lyth and former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis to play the first half of the tournament as replacements while Stephen Eskinazi has also been signed for the full season.

Scorchers have moved quickly to try and secure a replacement for Mills but they won't have a player arrive in time for Saturday night's season opener against Sydney Sixers

Legspinner Cameron Boyce, who claimed four wickets in four balls for Melbourne Renegades last season, will miss the start of the season with his new club Adelaide Strikers due to a calf injury.

“We are absolutely gutted for Cam and we will do everything we can to support him and hopefully get him back out onto the field as soon as possible,” head coach Jason Gillespie said. “No doubt Cam will still have a big impact on the group off the field during this period.”

Adelaide Strikers begin their campaign against Sydney Sixers at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday