The Melbourne Renegades have signed a contract with Tim Seifert for a two-year deal

The Melbourne Renegades have signed New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert to a two-year deal as a pre-draft BBL signing. At 29, Seifert will be fully available for both seasons, aiming to help the Renegades improve on their seventh-place finish from last season. His contract means he will miss part of New Zealand's domestic T20 tournament, the Super Smash, and the white-ball series against Pakistan over Christmas and New Year. Seifert declined a domestic contract with Northern Districts to pursue freelance T20 opportunities.

Seifert has played three ODIs and 61 T20Is for New Zealand and has participated in various T20 leagues globally. He averages 27.43 in T20s with a strike rate of 130.12 and has scored three centuries. Recently, he topped the run charts in the Lanka Premier League with 400 runs at 57.14 and a strike rate of 135.13.

He is expected to join Josh Brown and Jake Fraser-McGurk in a formidable top three for the Renegades and is a leading candidate for the wicketkeeping role, which was shared by Quinton de Kock and Jordan Cox last season.

Renegades general manager James Rosengarten praised Seifert as a "double threat," bringing both powerful batting and international keeping experience. He also noted Seifert's full availability as a major advantage for the upcoming BBL season.

The BBL draft is scheduled for September 1, with the Renegades holding picks 2, 10, 23, and 26.