By pulling English wicketkeeper-batsman Joe Clarke
away from their crosstown rivals Stars, the Melbourne Renegades have
accomplished a huge BBL signing.
With 800 runs at 30.76 and a strike rate of 136.98
over the last two seasons, Clarke has been a crucial member of the Stars. He
temporarily played for the Perth Scorchers in the 2020–21 season.
Despite not being selected in the draught last month,
he has now joined Quinton de Kock and Mujeeb Ur Rahman as the Renegades’ third
overseas acquisition. After the draught, there is a procedure that enables
clubs to sign their third name.
De Kock will initially grab the gloves before giving
them to Clarke when he returns home for the SA20. Clarke is scheduled to begin
the batting alongside de Kock.
However, with Clarke expected to depart for ILT20
towards the end of the BBL, Renegades will need to recruit another
wicketkeeping alternative. When Sam Harper was sent to the Stars in exchange
for Adam Zampa, they suffered a loss.
“Joe was an active part of our overseas draft
strategy this year,” Melbourne Renegades general manager James Rosengarten
said. “While we were limited in how we could use our picks at the overseas
player draft, we had a plan to secure Joe as quickly as we could and it came
off which is great for our Club.
“To have secured three overseas players that were
listed in the platinum overseas player group is a super result for the
Renegades and our members and fans.
“Whilst Quinton will take the gloves as our
primary wicketkeeper, Joe is also a strong keeper who will be able to keep when
Quinton is unavailable, giving us greater flexibility with our overseas
replacement player options.”
“We really like the way Joe plays the game,”
he added. “He’s an attacking player from the top who can set up a game
quickly and we think he’ll a perfect fit with our other top order
batters.”