Cliff Notes – Helmot at the helm of Renegades WBBL team for three more seasons
- Simon Helmot has re-signed as head coach of the Melbourne Renegades for three more years after leading the team to their first WBBL title last season.
- Helmot, who has extensive experience in men’s cricket, has built a strong rapport with players, particularly captain Sophie Molineux.
- The Renegades have retained Hayley Matthews and signed Tess Flintoff, while negotiations continue for Molineux and Georgia Wareham, amidst some player departures.
Helmot at the helm of Renegades WBBL team for three more seasons
Melbourne Renegades title-winning coach Simon Helmot has re-signed for a further three years after helping the club claim their first-ever WBBL trophy last season.
Helmot has vast experience in the men’s game across international, domestic and franchise cricket, and took the job as Renegades’ WBBL coach four years ago. Despite an indifferent first three seasons, he helped the club claim a title last season, forging a strong bond with the group and skipper Sophie Molineux.
“Last season was an incredibly special one for our playing group and staff, and I’m thrilled to be continuing as head coach,” Helmot said.
“Winning a title is never easy, which makes being part of this group all the more special. Led brilliantly by our general manager, James Rosengarten, and our captain, Sophie Molineux, achieving what we did was incredibly rewarding.
“We’ve got a great core group of players and people who are passionate about the club, and who are fully invested into achieving more. I’m excited by what we can do next.”
Renegades have re-signed West Indies star allrounder Hayley Matthews for next season ahead of Thursday’s WBBL overseas draft but are still to lock away Molineux and fellow Australia star Georgia Wareham who are both currently uncontracted. Renegades have poached up-and-coming Victoria allrounder Tess Flintoff from Melbourne Stars but have lost Victoria duo Ella Hayward and Georgia Prestwidge to their cross-town rivals.
Renegades have also signed former Victoria and South Australia fast bowler Rob Cassell as an assistant coach for the BBL team under head coach Cameron White. Cassell has also been appointed as Victoria’s men’s bowling coach under head coach Chris Rogers, taking over the role vacated by Adam Griffith, who was appointed as Australia’s national fast bowling coach earlier this year.
Cassell has moved to Victoria from Tasmania where he was the bowling coach for the men’s program and is highly regarded, having done some brief secondments with Australia’s men’s team under Andrew McDonald in recent years when senior bowling coach Daniel Vettori has been absent.