Preview: Player influx raises Gades' hopes

Squad: Aaron Finch (c), Dwayne Bravo (WI), Tom Cooper, Marcus Harris, Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg, Jon Holland, Tim Ludeman, Joe Mennie, Mohammad Nabi (AFG), James Pattinson (injured), Kieron Pollard (WI - international replacement), Kane Richardson, Matt Short, Will Sutherland (rookie), Chris Tremain, Guy Walker (injured), Beau Webster, Cameron White, Jack Wildermuth.

Ins: Tim Ludeman, Kane Richardson, Brad Hodge, Jon Holland (all Strikers), Jack Wildermuth (Heat), Joe Mennie (Sixers), Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan), Will Sutherland (rookie), Beau Webster (Hurricanes).

Outs: Peter Nevill (Sixers), Peter Siddle (Strikers), Callum Ferguson (Thunder), Matthew Wade (Hurricanes), Sunil Narine (personal reasons).

The inside word: "We’ve got a bit of experience now. We’ve had quite a few players come in this year and they’ve all been quite strategic recruits. Throw in the experience of Hogg and Hodge, Tommy Cooper and Cameron White. We’ve seen experience count for a lot in Twenty20 cricket, so I think that’s why we can win it." – Renegades captain Aaron Finch

The talking points: The Renegades have made some very big moves during the off-season, bringing eight new faces to their list. While the loss of Test quicks Peter Siddle (to the Strikers) and James Pattinson (injury) are blows, the Renegades have recruited Australia limited-overs quick Kane Richardson and they've also lured highly rated Queensland allrounder Jack Wildermuth from the Heat. Tim Ludeman comes on board to fill the space behind the stumps left by the departures of Peter Nevill and Matthew Wade, while veteran Brad Hodge and spinner Jon Holland also come on board. On the international front, the loss of Windies star Sunil Narine – who has withdrawn from the tournament for personal reasons – is a major blow, but the Renegades are covering him with Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi and West Indian Kieron Pollard.

BBL|06 result: The Renegades won four and lost four last summer to finish fifth. After being on the losing end of a couple of final-over thrillers, Aaron Finch's team was left sweating on the results of other matches during the final day of the BBL|06 group matches. Things didn't go their way, with cross-town rivals the Stars advancing to the finals courtesy of a superior net run rate.

The one to watch: Dwayne Bravo is fit and firing again after suffering a tournament-ending injury last summer and the Renegades will be relying on a major output from the Windies star. Bravo is T20 cricket's all-time leading wicket-taker, a blistering batsman and a terrific fielder, so expect plenty of entertainment from him in red this summer.

The pressure on: The Renegades have bid farewell to Siddle and won't have Pattinson at their disposal, so the heat is on recruit Kane Richardson to provide the fast-bowling firepower. He only played twice for the Strikers last season due to injury, but has established a strong reputation in limited-overs cricket – particularly at the death – and his input will be crucial as the Renegades seek a strong start to the season.

The fixtures: Dec 21 v Hurricanes (away), Dec 23 v Heat (home), Dec 29 v Scorchers (home), Jan 3 v Sixers (Geelong), Jan 6 v Stars (away), Jan 8 v Scorchers (away), Jan 12 v Stars (home), Jan 22 v Strikers (home), Jan 24 v Thunder (away), Jan 27 v Heat (away)