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Melbourne Renegades has upcoming Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) A new head coach has been appointed ahead of the season, with the franchise hoping the change in leadership will help them return to the top tier of the competition. The Renegades have turned to a coach with strong ties to the Australian women's setup in preparation for WBBL|12.

After the departure of Simon Helmot, Gavan Twining was given the responsibility.

Gavan Twiningwho is the assistant coach of the Australia women's team, has been appointed the new head coach of the Renegades for the upcoming WBBL campaign. He will take charge of the team following Australia's international commitments against Bangladesh and New Zealand in October. Twining is already familiar with several members of the Renegades squad through his work with the national team. He especially Sophie Molineux He has worked closely with Australia, who is the captain of both Australia and the Melbourne Renegades, giving the new coach an already established relationship with a key member of his team.

his appointment Simon Helmot After stepping down during the off-season. Helmot, who was in charge of the Renegades, left the role to pursue other opportunities in franchise cricket. Twining's tenure with the Renegades will be temporary, and the coach expects her to return to the Australian women's setup after the WBBL season concludes. Meanwhile, Renegades High Performance Manager Clint McKay Will oversee the team during the T20 Spring Challenge.

The Renegades are also operating under a temporary structure for the 2026–27 season, with Cricket Australia overseeing the club while wider discussions are ongoing around the future ownership and potential privatization of the Big Bash competitions.

New coach expected to change Renegades' fortunes

Twining will inherit a team that has experience of winning the WBBL, but struggled to maintain that level during the last campaign. The Renegades entered WBBL|11 as the defending champions and had high expectations after their title-winning season. However, their campaign proved inconsistent as they finished fifth on the points table with 10 points from 10 matches.

Five wins and five losses left Melbourne just outside the playoff places. While the team showed some glimpses of their championship-winning quality, they were unable to produce consistent enough performances to secure a place in the final four. This will make WBBL|12 an important campaign for Renegades. With Twining bringing experience from the Australian national setup, the franchise hopes his knowledge, tactical approach and familiarity with a number of players can help restore their competitive edge.

The new coach will have the task of creating continuity within the group, while making the most of the experience already in place. With Molineux continuing to provide leadership on the field, Twining will guide the Renegades back into playoff contention and possibly challenge for another WBBL title.