Finch bombshell leaves Renegades with leadership void

The Melbourne Renegades will begin the season without a host of their senior leaders after Australia's injured T20 World Cup winning skipper Aaron Finch stepped down as captain of the KFC BBL club.

New recruit Nic Maddinson will take over the reins, with Finch revealing on Thursday the decision to step aside was due to a busy schedule with the national side, to spend time with his new young family and an opportunity to refresh things.

Finch added a knee injury, which was so sore during the World Cup that he placed himself at first slip to limit his movement, would likely keep him sidelined during the opening stages of the BBL.

With Maddinson this week named in the Australia A squad to play the England Lions in Brisbane, starting December 9, and Australia's intra-squad practice match ahead of the Ashes Tests, he will also miss at least first two games of the BBL season.

Shaun Marsh, another senior Renegades player, is expected to be out until after Christmas having picked up a calf injury in Western Australia's recent Marsh Sheffield Shield win against Queensland, leaving Kane Richardson as the most senior player in the Renegades line-up.

Overseas recruit Mohammad Nabi could potentially fill the Renegades captaincy void for the first two matches having recently led Afghanistan during the T20 World Cup.

Another candidate is young batter Mackenzie Harvey, who captained Victoria's Second XI in their match against NSW this week and Australia's under-19 side during their World Cup campaign in 2020.

Finch said it was an "easy decision" to take a step back from his leadership duties with the Melbourne Renegades after nine seasons at the helm.

The succession plan was decided in consultation with new Renegades coach David Saker before Finch helped steer Australia to World Cup glory in the UAE.

The 35-year-old led the Renegades to their only BBL title in 2018-19 but feels the time is right to pass the baton to former Melbourne Stars batter Maddinson.

"Having a young family and captaining every game that you play around the world … it does take its toll and probably doesn't allow you enough time to be able to work on your own game as much as you would like," Finch said.

"In the Big Bash, we've got a really young squad at the Renegades.

"To have the opportunity just to work a bit closer as a player and not have your focus taken away from helping them out as much as you can with meetings and strategy meetings.

"It will be really important and hopefully I can be a really important part of the transition with Maddo."

Finch underwent knee surgery in August and while he was confident that he was never going to miss the World Cup, he conceded today he had pushed his body to the limit.

"I pushed the rehab really hard and probably paid the price for it a little bit throughout the tournament," he said. "I may need a bit more time off at the moment to get that right.

"I was never in doubt to miss a game (but) I was in doubt to field anywhere other than first slip. It looked like there was going to be a first slip for 20 overs at one point!

"The boys kept spraying me after the game … (saying) we were here for the IPL, we never saw a catch at slip, we don't need one. And I said 'yes we do!'."

Maddinson, a state teammate of Finch with Victoria, has signed a three-year deal with the Renegades.

The 29-year-old will be supported by senior players Marsh, Richardson and Finch, who is still contracted to the Renegades for the next two seasons.

"I wouldn't like to leave the Renegades (in a bad position)," Finch said.

"Say if I play for two more years and captain right to the end of that and there's been no real succession plan, then that would be a bit unfair.

"Hopefully I can still have an impact with Maddo if need be."

The Renegades have finished last in both seasons since their title breakthrough.

But Maddinson, who described the captaincy as "a huge honour and a challenge", expects a revitalised squad to challenge for silverware under Saker this summer.

The left-hander scored 277 runs at a strike rate under 100 for the Melbourne Stars over the past two seasons, which pale in comparison to his Sheffield Shield form of 1512 runs at an average of 52 during the same period.

"It's a great group of players with some young guys mixed in with experienced players," Maddinson said.

"I just want to encourage our players to be themselves and we'll aim to create a style of play that's entertaining to watch.

"We need to aim high and aim for the top."

Saker has returned on a two-year contract, having previously coached the Renegades in the 2015-16 season.