Reigning Bradman Young Player of the Year, Fergus O’Neill, has secured a two-year contract with the Renegades in the BBL.
The Renegades have bolstered their youthful lineup by re-signing O'Neill, who had an impressive debut last summer after a standout season for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield and One-Day Cup. His BBL debut saw him take two wickets against the Hurricanes, including the prized scalp of Ben McDermott, and he also played in the Melbourne Derby against the Stars. O'Neill remarked that re-signing with the club for two more seasons was an easy decision after experiencing the BBL.
"We're assembling a strong squad with a blend of youth and experience, and I'm excited about what we can achieve," he expressed. "I look forward to contributing more throughout the season whenever I can."
Re-signing with the Renegades also reunites O'Neill with his former mentor, Cameron White, who returns to the team as head coach after two seasons working with Greg Shipperd at NSW and Sydney Sixers. Under White’s guidance, O’Neill rose quickly in domestic cricket, earning his first state contract with Victoria in 2021. He has taken 67 Shield wickets at an impressive average of 20.34, with only a few players having achieved 50 Shield wickets faster and with a lower average this century.
O'Neill's achievements earned him the Bradman Young Player of the Year at last summer’s Australian Cricket Awards. The 23-year-old aims to learn from experienced players like Scott Boland. “Another pre-season is going well, and I’m feeling good,” O'Neill said. “That should set me up for another strong season with Victoria and the Gades, where we hope to win some silverware.”
O’Neill joins other young talents like Jake Fraser-McGurk and Will Sutherland, who have also signed long-term contracts with the Renegades as they aim to rebuild in BBL|14. Despite a finals’ appearance in BBL|12, the Renegades finished 8th or 7th in three of the past four BBL seasons.
Melbourne Renegades General Manager James Rosengarten highlighted the importance of securing emerging talent like O’Neill for the club's future. “When discussing the best emerging talent in Australian cricket, it's hard to overlook Fergus,” Rosengarten stated. “He had a remarkable domestic season, and securing him for the next couple of seasons is a huge boost. We’re excited to watch him develop in the Big Bash.”
The Renegades' revival, highlighted by signing Josh Brown, continued with the addition of experienced player Gurinder Sandhu from the Thunder. The club has yet to confirm an international pre-selection signing but will take picks 3, 11, 22, and 27 to the international player draft on September 1.
The Renegades will kick off their season against the Sydney Sixers on December 16.