Big Bash League franchise Melbourne Renegades will premiere the second season of its television series Renegades Recruit next week, with a local cricketer set to take centre stage.
One of 12 players from across Victoria selected to participate in the show, Old Students talent Liam Callegari will fly the flag for the Goulburn Valley in the three-episode TV program — set to air over three consecutive Mondays beginning on August 1.
Taking his game to the national stage, the 24-year-old will be battling it out for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to link up with the Renegades Academy squad for a clash with cross-town rival Melbourne Stars Academy in the lead-up to BBL12.
The winner will also receive $1000 worth of cricket gear and a 55-inch television, while their home club will get $2000 worth of gear, plus 100 tickets to a BBL match, a training session at the CitiPower Centre and other Renegades prizes.
Callegari explained what drew him to applying and how he almost missed his chance to appear on the show.
“I was really attracted to gaining the experience of being coached by and competing against some of the best cricket talents in the state as I continue to grow my game,” he said.
“I applied for the first season last year and I got a call last minute while I was camping and missed it, so I ended up missing out because of that.
“Luckily they fast-tracked me for this year’s season and I was able to get down there and finally get the experience of being on the show.”
Well beyond the comforts of Kialla Park, Callegari was faced with a host of new challenges while competing in the show, with the presence of television cameras and a rapid rise in competition something he said did take some adapting to.
“The experience as a whole was very rewarding, the competition was strong and it really tested my game like I never had before,” he said.
“Having all the TV cameras and stuff around certainly wasn’t my cup of tea; I didn’t go for that side of it, I was just super keen for the experience and what it would do for my game.
“So it did take a little bit of getting used to, and I probably would have rathered the cameras not be there, but in the end it just added to the whole program.”
Sure to catch the eye of the viewers, Callegari is renowned across the region for what is an unusual bowling action.
The budding leg-spinner explained how it came about and how he has embraced it as part of his game.
“It (my action) has always just been something that’s natural for me and I think that has worked for me over the journey,” he said.
“The action has certainly become a bit less weird over time with a bit of training and guidance, but I guess at the end of the day it is something that I embrace.”
As for what he hopes appearing on the show can do for his career, the 24-year-old said he hoped the extra exposure would allow him to take his game to new heights.
“Long term I haven’t got too many plans as to where I might go, but hopefully over the next few seasons I can continue to get better,” he said.
“I want to play the highest level of cricket possible and hopefully the Renegades Recruit can help me do that.”
Another name local cricket fans might recognise on the show is Goulburn Valley Bush Bash export Liam Smith, who played in two premierships with Shepparton-based franchise SRP Mud Dogs.