Wareham named WBBL|04 Young Gun

Teenage leg-spinner Georgia Wareham may have flown under the radar this Rebel WBBL season, but to those who were watching closely the Melbourne Renegades young gun has only enhanced her reputation.

Wareham, a member of Australia’s T20 World Cup winning squad, has claimed the Rebel Young Gun award for WBBL|04, taking out the gong for the best player aged under 21.

When the Renegades were narrowly knocked out of the tournament in a thrilling Super Over semi-final last weekend, Wareham had collected 11 wickets at 27.36.

But while she wasn’t among the most prolific wicket takers in the tournament, it was her economy rate – a miserly 5.9 that was only matched by South Africa superstar Marizanne Kapp and the Heat’s Grace Harris – that had the biggest impact for the Renegades.

To put that achievement into perspective, the average run rate for WBBL|04 jumped by almost an entire run to 7.40 from the previous summer, with Wareham more than holding her own while vastly more experienced players are struggling to stem the flow of runs.

The 19-year-old from Mortlake in western Victoria formed a formidable spin trio with teammates Molly Strano – an off-spinner who is sitting on top of the wickets table with 18 scalps from 10 games – and left-arm finger spinner Sophie Molineux, as they helped the Renegades make the WBBL semi-finals for the first time.

“She’s been incredible, she just flies under the radar, old Wolf,” Molineux said of Wareham – nicknamed ‘Wolfy’ – during the WBBL|04 regular season.

“She just does her thing, turns up day in and day out. She’s been great performer for us and she’s been one of the most reliable bowlers the competition.

“That’s a credit to her. She’s only 19 and you wouldn’t even know what when she gets the ball.”

Wareham earned selection in Australia’s limited-overs teams last September due to her ability to bowl quick leg-spin combined with her control and her clever variations – the same list of attributes that’s seen Rashid Khan dominate the KFC BBL across the last two seasons.

It was a leap of faith on an uncapped teenager from the Australian selectors, but it paid off at the T20 World Cup final, when Wareham picked up key wickets with consecutive balls and executed a stunning direct hit run out.

Wareham is the third player to win the award, following in the footsteps of Australian teammates Sophie Molineux and Ashleigh Gardner, and will gain access to a tailored mentor program and prize pack valued at over $6000.