Wily Wareham flies under the radar

Melbourne Renegades Georgia Wareham may not be dominating the wickets tally this Rebel WBBL season, but few bowlers are proving as troublesome for the tournament's batters as the teenage leg-spinner.

Wareham, a member of Australia’s T20 World Cup winning squad, is boasting the incredible economy rate of 5.27 after 10 matches for the Renegades in WBBL|04, to go with her seven wickets.

That’s almost a full run less than her nearest rivals, the Thunder’s Lisa Griffith (6.19) and the Sixers’ Marizanne Kapp (6.23).

And in a tournament that’s seen the average run rate jump almost an entire run to 7.40, Wareham’s more than holding her own while vastly more experienced players are struggling to stem the flow of runs.

The 19-year-old from Mortlake in western Victoria forms a formidable spin trio with teammates Molly Strano – an off-spinner who is sitting on top of the wickets table with 18 scalps from 10 games – and left-arm finger spinner Sophie Molineux.

“She’s been incredible, she just flies under the radar, old Wolf,” Molineux said of Wareham – nicknamed ‘Wolfy’ – following the Renegades’ five-wicket win in Geelong on Thursday.

“She just does her thing, turns up day in and day out. She’s been great performer for us and she’s been one of the most reliable bowlers the competition.

“That’s a credit to her. She’s only 19 and you wouldn’t even know what when she gets the ball.”

Wareham earned selection in Australia’s limited-overs teams due to her ability to bowl quick leg-spin combined with her control and her clever variations – the same list of attributes that’s seen Rashid Khan dominate the KFC BBL across the last two seasons.

It was a leap of faith on an uncapped teenager from the Australian selectors, but it paid off at the T20 World Cup final, when Wareham picked up key wickets with consecutive balls and executed a stunning direct hit run out.

And despite the grueling schedule of her first three months of international cricket, Wareham’s showing no signs of fatigue in WBBL|04.

“She’s been brilliant,” Renegades captain Amy Satterthwaite said. “To be a leg-spinner in a competition like this and to have an economy rate like that is just brilliant.”

Now, with the Renegades vying to become the first Melbourne team to qualify for the WBBL finals, it’s their crop of up-and-coming spin bowling talent, with Wareham and Molineux joining the more experienced Strano, that’s proving to be one of their key weapons.

For Strano, the chance to bowl alongside her fellow Renegades spinners and Victorian teammates is something she’s relishing in WBBL|04.

“They’re two of my closest mates as well, so we have a good bond, a good friendship,” Strano told cricket.com.au.

“We’ve been able to exchange knowledge and what we’ve learned throughout the games and that helps us all develop quicker as bowlers.

“It’s really nice to be able to bounce ideas off spinners as well.”

But the Renegades’ finals push will be made without rising Australian fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the season due to an ACL strain in her left knee.

It’s a disappointing blow for the 20-year-old from Bendigo, who has already undergone two knee reconstructions – both to her right knee – and recovered from a dislocated shoulder.

She finally made her WBBL debut on the opening weekend of the season and with a 5-6 week expected recovery period, her Renegades and Australian teammate Molineux hopes to see the quick back on the park sooner rather than later.

“Poor old Tay, she’s had a rough run,” Molineux, who is housemates with both Vlaeminck and Wareham, said.

“Credit to her she holds her head up high and she’s been great around the group which is a credit to her character.

“Only five to six weeks is a great result considering it involved her ACL. We’re really disappointed she’ll miss the last few games but she’s a good kid and I’m sure she’s doing everything she can to get back quickly.

“She bowls wheels so we’re very keen for her to get out there again. I just want to see her play cricket, whatever colours whether it’s for the Renegades, Victoria or Australia.”