Melbourne Renegades lock away Ollie Peake, announce Geelong home games
Ollie Peake and the Melbourne Renegades are coming back to Geelong this summer.
The BBL franchise has confirmed it will open its summer with back-to-back home games at GMHBA Stadium.
Games will be played on Monday, December 15 and Sunday, December 21 with local supporters hoping they will be able to see local prospect Ollie Peake in action.
Peake made his debut for the Renegades last summer and scored 19 against the Brisbane Heat.
He has now signed his first full-time contract with the club after joining as a replacement player last season.
'It's a really special feeling to sign my first full Big Bash contract with the Renegades,' Peake said.
'Getting the chance to debut last summer was a great experience, it gave me a taste of cricket at the top T20 level and I'm keen to get stuck in and hopefully play more games.'
Renegades general manager James Rosengarten said Peake had shown maturity beyond his years to date.
'We got a glimpse of what he's capable of during his debut last season and his performances at the Under-19 World Cup and for Victoria either side of the Big Bash,' Rosengarten said.
The Renegades opponents for the December games will be confirmed later this week when the fixture is officially released.
It will be the eighth time the club has played in Geelong.
Rosengarten said the club had worked closely with the necessary stakeholders for a balanced set of home games between GMHBA and Marvel Stadium.
'Geelong has always been a special part of our summer schedule,' Rosengarten said.
'The support from our fans in the region has grown every season, and we're excited to deliver two huge nights of entertainment and cricket for them this year.
'These won't just be games of cricket – they'll be major events. We know how much cricket fans in the Geelong region love getting behind the Gades, and these matches will play a crucial role in setting up our season.'
Kardinia Park Stadium Trust chief executive Gerard Griffin welcomed the club's return.
'We're delighted to welcome the Renegades back for another summer of Big Bash at GMHBA Stadium,' Griffin said.
'The atmosphere these games bring is fantastic – they're a real highlight on the Geelong event calendar and we're looking forward to two more big nights under lights.'
Last summer, the Renegades secured a thumping win over the Hobart Hurricanes by six wickets.
The Gades rolled their Tasmanian opponents for just 74 before going onto win the game.
Originally published as Melbourne Renegades lock away Ollie Peake, announce Geelong home games
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