Renegades poach Proteas quick to boost pace stocks

Shabnim Ismail has returned to the Melbourne Renegades, signing with the club for the upcoming Weber WBBL season.

The fiery South Africa fast bowler first played for the Renegades in WBBL|01, famously taking 3-10 against the Stars at the MCG, before spending several seasons at the Sydney Thunder.

The 33-year-old is a valuable inclusion to the Renegades' pace stocks, given Australia tearaway quick Tayla Vlaeminck – who has returned to the club after a two-year stint at the Hurricanes – has already been ruled out of the upcoming WBBL season as she continues her recovery from a foot injury.

Ismail's signing completes the Renegades' three-player overseas contingent, as she joins India captain Harmanpreet Kaur and West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews at the club.

Matthews' signing was confirmed last week, with the off-spin bowling allrounder making her return to the league after previously playing for Hobart Hurricanes.

"I started off there in 2016 and I'm happy to be coming back to the Renegades this year. I love the WBBL, it's one of my favourite competitions to play in," Ismail said.

"I met Sophie Molineux when I think she was 16 years old and now she's captaining the team, so I'm really looking forward to playing alongside her again.

"For me, it's about having fun on and off the field and being the professional out there I know I can be. With the new ball, I want to strike up front and get the team in good positions in the powerplay.

"Every team wants to play good cricket; everybody wants to get to the finals. Hopefully we can get over the line this year and win the Big Bash."

Ismail was due to play for Sydney Thunder last summer before being ruled out with a knee injury but played a critical role in the club's title-winning WBBL|06 campaign in 2020-21.

The right-armer has claimed 27 wickets from 31 WBBL matches across three seasons with the Renegades and Thunder, with an economy rate below six runs per over.

"Shabnim is one of the world's most experienced and most successful bowlers and will be fantastic addition to our team," Melbourne Renegades general manager James Rosengarten said.

"We were looking to bolster our pace stocks and to be able to bring Shabnim back to the Renegades is a great outcome.

"Her ability to take wickets up front, bowl in pressure situations and be able to guide some of our younger players will be really beneficial for us.

"With our local playing list and the additions of Shabnim, Harmanpreet Kaur and Hayley Matthews, there's a lot of optimism about what our team might be able to achieve this summer."

The Renegades have two spots left to confirm on their list, while they will also need to source local replacement players for the Australian contracted pair of Vlaeminck and Georgia Wareham, who will both miss the season through injury.

The Renegades will begin their WBBL|08 campaign on October 16 against the Brisbane Heat in Mackay.

Melbourne Renegades WBBL|08 squad (so far): Sophie Molineux (c), Shabnim Ismail (SA), Harmanpreet Kaur (Ind), Hayley Matthews (WI), Sarah Coyte, Josie Dooley, Ellie Falconer, Ella Hayward, Carly Leeson, Rhiann O’Donnell, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham, Courtney Webb

Tickets for Weber WBBL and KFC BBL games are on sale now. Get yours at cricket.com.au/big-bash