Matt Critchley has been signed as an Overseas player by Melbourne Renegades in Australia’s Big Bash League.
The 26-year-old leg-spinning allrounder joins the squad with five group games remaining as Overseas spinners, Akeal Hosein and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, depart.
The call-up caps off an excellent start to 2023 for Critchley who, along with Sam Cook, has been called up to the England Lion’s ODI squad for their tour of Sri Lanka.
The tournament will be Critchley’s first appearance in an overseas league and his second in franchise cricket after representing Welsh Fire in the Hundred.
Aaron Finch’s side are enjoying a change in fortunes and resides in third place in the table after finishing bottom in the two previous seasons.
The signing comes after Critchley’s performances for the Eagles in the Vitality Blast stood out. Before a knee injury interrupted his season, he had scored 248 runs at an average of 31 and a strike-rate of 139.32 and been Essex’s second-highest wicket-taker in the competition with 15 wickets coming from his 10 matches.
The Renegades’ next game comes against Adelaide Strikes at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday 10 January, 8:40am (GMT) and Critchley has made his way straight into the squad.
Melbourne Renegades squad vs Adelaide Strikers: Aaron Finch (c), Matt Critchley, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Martin Guptill, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Mackenzie Harvey, Ruwantha Kellapotha, David Moody, Jack Prestwidge, Kane Richardson, Corey Rocchiccioli, Tom Rogers, Will Sutherland, Jon Wells
Melbourne Renegades Remaining Fixtures:
Tues 10 Jan, 8:40am: Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Renegades
Sat 14 Jan, 8:30am: Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars
Thur 19 Jan, 8:15am: Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Renegades
Sun 22 Jan, 8:15am: Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Renegades
Tues 24 Jan, 8:15am: Melbourne Renegades vs Adelaide Strikers
All times in GMT.
