The Melbourne Renegades have added to their squad with the signing of seasoned batter Naomi Stalenberg, who joins the club on a two-year deal after four seasons with the Hobart Hurricanes. At 30 years old, Stalenberg brings a lot of experience to the Renegades’ lineup, having accumulated 122 games worth of WBBL action over her career.
Stalenberg’s move to Melbourne is set to provide a significant boost. With a career tally of 1,443 runs in the WBBL, including a notable high score of 55, Stalenberg’s track record includes an impressive performance in WBBL|09 where she notched up 162 runs from eight innings, highlighted by a standout 54 off 29 balls against the Perth Scorchers.
Renegades’ general manager, James Rosengerten, expressed enthusiasm about Stalenberg’s addition, emphasizing her ability to maintain a high run rate and her aggressive intent during crucial middle periods of games. “Naomi has demonstrated over a long period of time her capacity to handle key situations while keeping the scoreboard ticking,” Rosengerten said.
Stalenberg, who has previously played for the Sydney Thunder and the Hurricanes, has a history of success in domestic cricket. Her career began in the 2013/14 season with the New South Wales in the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL), where she also enjoyed a stint with the Sydney Thunder during the inaugural WBBL season in 2015. Stalenberg’s 2015–16 WBBL season was particularly notable for her explosive scoring, as she tallied 160 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 150.94.
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In the 2019/20 WNCL season, Stalenberg achieved her career-best performance with 255 runs in nine matches, although her tenure with New South Wales ended following that season. Stalenberg embraced new opportunities with the Hurricanes and Tasmania’s Women’s National Cricket League side, contributing to Tasmania’s successful three-peat.
The Renegades have been active in their recruitment efforts, with Stalenberg being part of a series of signings aimed at revitalizing the team. Alongside Stalenberg, the Renegades have secured Hayley Matthews, who rejoined the team as an international pre-selection, and the Melbourne Stars duo Milly Illingworth and Nicole Faltum. As the Renegades prepare for the 10th season of the WBBL, starting with a match against the Sixers at Adelaide Oval on October 27.
With Stalenberg’s arrival and a fresh look squad, the Renegades are composed to make a strong push for the final and potentially challenge for the title in the upcoming season.