Hogg the latest to use coloured bat in BBL

Melbourne Renegades spinner Brad Hogg will be the latest player to use a coloured bat if the veteran does indeed face a delivery in the New Year's Day blockbuster.

Hogg is set to unveil a red bat against cross-town rivals the Stars at the MCG on Sunday, following in the footsteps of Sydney Thunder allrounder Andre Russell who has used a black bat in BBL|06.

Russell’s bat was banned after it left black marks on the ball against the Sydney Sixers in the competition's opening match but has since been modified and approved by Cricket Australia, paving the way for Hogg to whip out the crimson willow.

However, whether the expected 80,000-plus crowd tomorrow will see the bat in action is in doubt given that Hogg has batted just 10 times in 54 BBL appearances.

The 45-year-old veteran will be playing his first Melbourne Derby after spending the first five years of the BBL at The Furnace representing two-time champions Perth Scorchers.

"I can't wait ... one of the biggest things I was looking forward to with the move was (this game)," Hogg said.

"This is the one that I've wanted to see (firsthand) and experience.

"I'm really looking forward to it."

Organisers are urging fans to buy tickets before Sunday and arrive early for the 6.10pm AEDT start in a bid to avoid the chaotic scenes of last season that saw thousands stuck outside the ground after the game had started.

The Renegades are 1-1 going into the clash after suffering a dramatic last-ball loss to Hogg's old side at Etihad Stadium, while the Stars have only played one game - a season-opening win against Hobart.

Melbourne's red team suffered a huge blow with the loss of star import Dwayne Bravo to a hamstring injury in the four-wicket loss, but Hogg backed his side to bounce back.

"It's a small battle in a big tournament ... the war is not won yet," he said.

"You can't dwell on the losses, you dwell on the positives, and the positives for us are that we held on in the contest right until the end.

"I think with any successful team in any tournament, if they lose the losses are very small."

Stars import Kevin Pietersen will feature for the first time this campaign after missing his side's first clash to spend Christmas with his family in England.

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