Renegades batsman Ben Rohrer dresses up as Evel Knievel. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: News Limited
THE Melbourne Renegades are building an imposing fortress at Etihad Stadium.
Not only are the 'Gades 5-1 in their past six games in the Docklands - including a big win last year against derby opponent the Stars - they've designed a team specifically to cash in on its dimensions and idiosyncrasies.
The drop-in Etihad pitch plays markedly slower and lower than other Big Bash venues around Australia, giving the boys in red even greater incentive to lean on their posse of spin options.
Throw in the long straight boundaries, and the Renegades' game plan is superbly mapped out in the format still thought, falsely, by many to be hit and giggle.
And nobody's more enamored of the venue than middle-order revelation Ben Rohrer, who has plundered 195 runs in six innings at an average of 65 and a colossal strike rate of 169.6 with 11 towering sixes.
James Pattinson takes four wickets as Melbourne Renegades easily account for Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash.
"I really enjoy it out here. I don't know what it is, whether it's a different sort of lighting ... without the big light poles," Rohrer said.
"But we love playing here, we love the dimensions of it - being really long straight is good for our spinners and other sides don't like coming here ... because it's so different to where they play.
Aaron Finch has praised his aggressive top order after they put the Melbourne Renegades in what proved to be an unbeatable position against Brisbane Heat.
"We really try to use that to an advantage and we know other teams hate it here."
Renowned straight hitters Jos Buttler - likely in his final game for the Renegades before England's one-day series begins - and Aaron Finch have the power to not be disadvantaged by the dimensions with the willow.
But it's with the ball, particularly Sri Lankan champ Muthian Muralidaran, that the hosts enjoy an edge that even Stars veteran Brad Hodge acknowledges.
"I'd like to see a little bit more life in it," Hodge said of Etihad pitch.
"But they're probably going to prepare it the way they want it - they've got Murali there and I'd probably do the same thing if I were them.
"But we've got some pretty good players of spin in our side and it makes for a mouth-watering contest."
One key factor working in the Stars' favour more than other BBL teams is the exposure to Murali and the low, spinning pitches that many of their line-up experience in the Indian Premier League.
Hodge said Murali and Australian paceman James Pattinson, fresh off a club record 4-24 spell in Hobart, would be critical for the ladder-topping Stars as they seek their fourth successive victory.
"Pattinson is dangerous, with the new ball he could take a few early ones and Murali's dangerous as well," Hodge said.
"So you've got to be wary of those two campaigners to make sure you don't get them into the game and get them excited about it."
James Faulkner will play for the Stars tonight, but his fellow Test squad member Alex Doolan was retained by the national team at the SCG and is unavailable for the Renegades.
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