Kane Richardson is set to captain Melbourne Renegades in the absence of new skipper Nic Maddinson with coach David Saker confident he is well placed to juggle the leadership and his bowling duties.
Maddinson was named as Renegades skipper after Australia captain Aaron Finch stood down following the T20 World Cup triumph. But he is set to be unavailable for the first three games due to Australia A duty.
Veteran Shaun Marsh is also out injured with a calf tear and unlikely to play before Christmas while Finch is still battling his knee issue. Saker revealed on Wednesday that Richardson had stepped up to fill the void.
"Kane Richardson will do it, which is great flavour of the week, I suppose, because Patty's [Cummins] got the Australian job and now Kane will do our job," Sake told ESPNcricinfo. "I'm really pleased that he put his hand up. He sent me a text and said he obviously knew that we were in a bit of a dilemma with it. And I wanted him to do it, but he put his hand up even before I asked him so that's really pleasing.
"If Finchy is out there he can help him out. The important thing is if you've got a fast-bowling captain when he's bowling he's not worried about the field, just do your job and someone else will do this.
"So if Finch is not there, Mackenzie Harvey will do that role for us but I'm comfortable with Kane doing it. He's a really experienced player and he's been great for us."
Richardson only flew into Melbourne to join the Renegades squad on Wednesday night after spending some time at home following the World Cup triumph.
Meanwhile, Finch is still touch and go for the start of the BBL. His surgically repaired knee flared up during the World Cup and he revealed he was struggling to move fluently in the field the longer the tournament went on.
Australia have a three-match ODI series scheduled against New Zealand at the end of January and then T20I series against Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Pakistan in February and March as they begin their build-up to a T20 title defence at home next October.
Renegades won't push Finch to play with Saker keen for Australia's captain to prioritise his recovery in order to be fully fit for national duty.
Alex Malcolm is an Associate Editor at ESPNcricinfo
Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: 
Email: 
