MELBOURNE Renegade Will Sheridan says cross-town rival Melbourne Stars is undoubtedly the “cockiest sporting team in Australia”.
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He loves nothing more than beating the Stars and will get his chance in the Big Bash League season opener next week.
Key to preparations – to make sure he is more than ready – is Ballarat.
“The Stars have all the flash, big name players while the Renegades go about their work hard – that’s why I love beating them,” Sheridan said.
“I’m looking forward to coming out to Ballarat and the team coming together again.
“Helmo (coach Simon Helmot) gets us all playing for each other.”
Sheridan encouraged Ballarat fans to turn out and watch the Renegades finetune their game.
All-time leading Test wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan and leading Australian Twenty20 cricketer Aaron Finch will be in action.
Sheridan will unleash his trademark big drive and expects his teammates to follow suit in practice matches at Eastern Oval on Sunday.
The Renegades’ Wipe Off 5 Ballarat Bush Bash camp is the first chance players will join as a team this summer and focus on the Twenty20 game.
Most, like Sheridan with the Victorian Bushrangers, have
been busy with Sheffield Shield duties.
Sheridan assures The Courier most Renegades will not be holding back.
“I’ve been back in Melbourne where I can sneak a few hits in. I’ve only just kicked into Twenty20 mode and most guys have been in red ball mode,” Sheridan said.
“That’s why this weekend is so important ... there’ll be some blokes easing in but everyone is keen to play and to play in a match situation before round one.
“Net sessions are great for easing you in – but there’s nothing like hitting boundaries in a match.”
The Renegades arrive in Ballarat tomorrow for school clinics and will hold an open training session at Eastern Oval on Saturday morning.
They return to the ground to face the South Australian-based Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy for two practice matches on Sunday.
melanie.whelan@fairfaxmedia.com.au