The Melbourne Renegades say they’ve used their outsider status to fuel their strong start to the Big Bash League season.
Impressive wins over the Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder have the Renegades top of the table heading into Wednesday night’s Etihad Stadium clash with the Hobart Hurricanes.
Bookmakers still have them underdogs against the Hurricanes and trailing the Stars, Hobart and the Sydney Sixers as title favourites.
But batsman Ben Rohrer, part of the Sixers’ title-winning side last summer before joining the Renegades this season, said they had the talent to keep outperforming more-fancied opponents.
“I know not many of the punters think we’re a title chance but definitely in the rooms we’re super-confident in our own abilities and each other’s abilities,” Rohrer told reporters on Tuesday.
“We were rank outsiders, maybe second-last in the betting, before the tournament began, so there’s definitely a point to prove for us.
“We’ve gone a little way towards doing it but I think we need to beat teams like Hobart to really prove ourselves as title contenders.”
Much of the credit for the Renegades’ strong start belongs to captain Aaron Finch.
Finch has top-scored in both of his team’s games so far, including an unbeaten 111 against the Stars at Etihad Stadium.
Hurricanes speedster Doug Bollinger, who got his first look at Etihad on Tuesday, said the venue was much bigger than Finch made it look on television.
Bollinger, who impressed against the Stars at the MCG on Saturday night, achieving the rare feat of consecutive maidens in a fiery opening spell, said dismissing Finch early would be crucial.
“I’ve got to try and get him before he gets me,” Bollinger said.
“He’s the key player for their team and if we happen to nip him off early that would be fantastic.”
Squads: Renegades: Aaron Finch (capt), Daniel Harris, Marlon Samuels, Ben Rohrer, Peter Nevill, Tom Cooper, Will Sheridan, Aaron O’Brien, Nathan Rimmington, Michael Hill, Darren Pattinson, Muttiah Muralitharan, Brendan Drew.
Hurricanes: George Bailey (capt), Tim Paine, Ricky Ponting, Travis Birt, Owais Shah, Scott Styris, Evan Gulbis, Ben Laughlin, Michael Hogan, Xavier Doherty, Doug Bollinger, Jon Wells, Jason Krejza.