Emma de Broughe, who joined the Renegades squad at the last minute in WBBL|09, has now signed a multi-season contract with the club.
Melbourne Renegades have bolstered their batting lineup by signing promising batter Emma de Broughe on a two-year deal. De Broughe, honored as the Betty Wilson Young Cricketer of the Year at the Australian Cricket Awards in January, made her WBBL debut with the Renegades last season after being brought in as a local replacement player. She scored 89 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 133, including a crucial 35-ball 42 that led the Renegades to a surprise win over Brisbane Heat. This was one of only two victories for the club, which finished at the bottom of the table.
The 23-year-old had a standout summer, accumulating 319 runs while opening the batting for South Australia in the WNCL. She was also selected for the three-day Australia A intrasquad red-ball game in Adelaide in March.
In June, de Broughe was named in the Australia A red-ball squad to face India A on the Gold Coast later this month. Reflecting on her experience, de Broughe said, "It was great to gain experience at this level last season. My time with the Renegades helped me adopt a more aggressive mindset and further develop my power game. I hope to make significant contributions to the team's success this year and play any role that's needed."
A skilled multisport athlete, de Broughe previously represented Australia in underage hockey before committing to cricket full-time. Her addition will strengthen the Renegades' batting lineup, which will also see the return of captain Sophie Molineux this summer after she missed WBBL|09 due to a ruptured ACL.
De Broughe's inclusion will help fill the gap left by Jess Duffin, who retired at the end of last season. She is the second batter to join the Renegades for the upcoming season, following the signing of Nicole Faltum from the Stars.
The Renegades have one local spot left to fill on their WBBL|10 roster, with the remaining two overseas spots to be determined at the Draft on September 1.