» All-rounder Howell gets Big Bash chance with Renegades

GLOUCESTERSHIRE allrounder Benny Howell has joined Big Bash side Melbourne Renegades ahead of this week’s opening match.

Howell comes into the squad as an overseas replacement player for Mohammad Nabi, who will miss the opening two matches of the tournament as he completes his quarantine period.

Nabi and Noor Ahmad had the start of their 14-day quarantine delayed after they were not allowed to fly to Adelaide as originally planned due to a Covid outbreak in the city.

Howell, 32, is a middle order batsman and pace bowler with 121 T20 matches to his name. Last year he hit 64 runs off 37 balls against Australia A.

“Benny’s got a great T20 record with Gloucestershire and I got to know him well in my time over there,” Renegades coach and former Gloucestershire captain Michael Klinger said.

“He’s got all the tricks and is someone who can finish off an innings really well with the bat and he has a lot of variations with the ball.

“We’ve looked to strengthen the end of our batting innings with Dan Christian heading to the Sixers – so with Benny, Imad Wasim, Will Sutherland and Jack Prestwidge we’ve got some strong options to help close out our batting innings.”

Also in the Renegades squad is Mackenzie Harvey, nephew of Gloucestershire assistant coach Ian Harvey.

After winning the BBL in 201819, the Renegades had a horror defence of their title.

They lost their first eight games under coach Klinger and never recovered, managing only three wins for the tournament.

Their attack, which was the key to their title in 2018-19, really struggled to contain opponents and they simply couldn’t score enough runs to overcome that and they have gone on a very specific recruiting drive to bolster the attack for this season.

The Renegades face the Perth Scorchers in their opening game in Hobart on Saturday. Renegades squad: Noor Ahmad (AFG), Cameron Boyce, Zak Evans, Aaron Finch (c), Jake Fraser-mcgurk, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Mackenzie Harvey, Jon Holland, Benny Howell (ENG), Josh Lalor, Shaun Marsh, Mohammad Nabi (AFG), James Pattinson, Mitch Perry, Jack Prestwidge, Kane Richardson, Rilee Rossouw (RSA), Will Sutherland, Imran Tahir (RSA), Imad Wasim (PAK), Beau Webster.

Local Replacement Players: Brody Couch (Marcus Harris), Peter Hatzoglou (Will Sutherland)