Renegade stars show their form

ASPIRING sportswomen will get another taste of elite female sport when the Melbourne Renegades host the Sydney Sixers today.

In November, Australia’s world-class soccer team hosted China at GMHBA Stadium, featuring one of the sport’s marquee players in Sam Kerr.

Cricket’s equivalent in Ellyse Perry — recently crowned the best player in the world — will showcase her game in Geelong today, hopefully inspiring a generation of girls to take up the sport.

“I think we’ve focused a hell of a lot on women’s cricket over the last 12 months and been pushing that, so we’re hoping a lot of the female cricketers of the future can come down and really enjoy the WBBL experience,” Renegades chief executive Stuart Coventry said.

“I really think if they can get down there early, they’ll really enjoy the experience and, as we always do at Renegades games, we give out a hell of a lot of free goodies.

“We want to make sure everyone who comes along to the game has a great experience and enjoys the Renegades as a brand, particularly families — that’s our target market.”

Coventry put a call out for cricket fans in Geelong to get behind the Renegades.

“It’s been a lot of hard work to get this up but everyone’s really looking forward to playing,” he said.

“Everything has come together really well and the ground is an absolute treat, the wicket looks good. We’re hoping to get close to a capacity crowd and have a fantastic spectacle for Big Bash and the city of Geelong.

“Support the Renegades, come out and enjoy the first regular-season match at GMHBA Stadium. It’s going to be a great family night out.”