Melbourne Renegades Appoint Gavan Twining as WBBL Head Coach

The Melbourne Renegades have announced the appointment of Gavan Twining, currently the assistant coach for the Australia women’s team, as their head coach for the upcoming WBBL season. Twining’s transition to the Renegades will occur following Australia’s international series against Bangladesh and New Zealand in October, after which he will return to his national duties.

Twining takes over from Simon Helmot, who stepped down during the off-season to pursue other franchise opportunities. Renegades general manager Max Abbott expressed confidence in Twining’s capabilities, stating, “Gavan is an outstanding addition to our WBBL programme, bringing World Cup winning experience to our group.” Abbott emphasized the positive environment within the squad and noted Twining’s alignment with the team’s experienced leaders.

During the T20 Spring Challenge, Renegades high-performance manager Clint McKay will lead the team in Twining’s absence. Twining has previously worked closely with Sophie Molineux, the captain of both the Renegades and the Australia team.

The Renegades are currently being operated under a temporary model for the 2026-27 season, which is overseen by Cricket Australia amid ongoing discussions regarding the privatization of the Big Bash League. Twining commented on the team’s prospects, stating, “The Renegades have a strong foundation and a talented squad, and I’m looking forward to helping the players take the next step and build on the success the club has had.”

Additionally, Cricket Victoria has confirmed the end of their relationship with the Renegades, announcing plans to sell their second BBL license and focus on operating a single franchise. Initial plans were to implement these changes for the 2026-27 season, although uncertainty remains regarding the sale process.

Special Credits: Image Courtesy of Espn