FORMER Nirranda cricketer Jake Haberfield hopes to take full advantage of his shock elevation to the Melbourne Renegades’ playing list.
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The Big Bash League club has called on the 26-year-old quick to replace Jayde Herrick, whose campaign is over after a serious foot injury.
Haberfield, who plays his state cricket with the South Australia Redbacks, earned a spot on the Renegades supplementary list mid last week. He did not expect to feature in the Twenty20 competition campaign.
But Herrick’s injury opened the door for his promotion.
Haberfield joins the Renegades on the back of limited, but encouraging performances with the Redbacks.
He has taken five wickets at 18.6 in three Ryobi Cup matches and four wickets at 26.5 in his sole Sheffield Shield match.
More so, it was his association with Renegades coach Simon Helmot, who was assistant coach of an Australia A squad Haberfield was part of in 2010, which was central to his recruitment.
Haberfield said he had not set himself any goals with the Renegades, hoping only to learn from high-profile internationals in the team.
“I’m excited and happy to be a part of the group and part of the experience,” he said.
“The next few weeks I will be really enjoying myself, trying to learn a few things.
“Obviously we’ve got a superstar like Muttiah Muralitharan in our group and Marlon Samuels joins us later this week.
“Anything I can learn off them and anyone else in the group would be great.”
The Renegades opened their campaign with an eight-wicket win against Melbourne Stars, thanks to Colac batsman and captain Aaron Finch’s 111 not out.
They take on Chris Gayle’s Sydney Thunder in Sydney tomorrow night.
Helmot said he held Haberfield in high regard since the 2010 Australia A series.
“We struck up a good relationship,” he said.
“It’s interesting how the cricket landscape has changed.” Helmot said Haberfield would battle first-choice paceman Darren Pattinson for matches.
“There were other options but we felt Jake was the best of the group we were looking at,” he said. “It was very much about a person who could bowl at the top, could move the ball and, most importantly, take wickets.
“At the moment Darren Pattinson is our frontline fast bowler. He’s looking at that particular position, which I’m sure Darren is going to hold onto as best he can.”
