Melbourne Renegades have appointed Australia women's assistant coach and fielding mentor Gavan Twining as head coach for WBBL's 2026–27 season. Twining will lead Melbourne Renegades at WBBL 12 and subsequently return to his position as assistant coach for the national women's team later in the year, following the conclusion of the domestic limited-overs competition.

His new role will see Twining take up a post in charge of Australia's women's cricket team in October 2026, after he joins the Renegades from overseas, having left his post as an assistant coach for Melbourne Stars in the last WBBL season. Twining will be joining former Australian captain Meg Lanning, who's currently signed as the Renegades' overseas star player for this season. This recent development is expected to provide fans with a chance to see both coaches face off against each other.

Gavan Twining Brings World Cup Experience to Renegades

Gavan Twining has been involved with Australia's female coaching staff since the end of 2024, serving as a fielding coach for the national team's T20 World Cup victory. His experience and knowledge of the Australian game, plus several Renegades players, could serve as a solid basis for the impending move into the head coach position.

Furthermore, Twining has worked closely with Renegades captain Sophie Molineux, who has had multiple leadership roles, both as a member of the national team and as a leader of Melbourne. Thus, he has an excellent opportunity to develop further relationships and understanding with one of the most influential figures in the Renegades' staff.

“Gavan is an exceptional addition to our WBBL program, having played a key role in Australia's World Cup victory. There is a terrific culture being created by the group, and we felt Gavan was the right person to build on that with the experienced leaders in our squad,” said Renegades general manager Max Abbott, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Gavan Twining's hiring process occurs within the context of the broader changes affecting the Renegades' future. Cricket Victoria's decision to sell their second BBL license and focus solely on the men's team has resulted in Cricket Australia taking over the administration of the club.

Under the new regime, the Renegades will be placed under the direct control of Cricket Australia for the 2026–27 season, with their men's BBL side also shifting to the new administration. The incoming head coach of the men's team, Luke Ronchi, has already been hired.

Therefore, Twining has an opportunity to shape the future of the women's team at the start of his tenure, as the Renegades will look to consolidate their progress and build on their existing depth.

Gavan Twining to Report Late After Playing in T20 Spring Challenge

Despite the high expectations, Twining is unlikely to report to the Renegades' base straight away. The team will participate in the upcoming T20 Spring Challenge in Sydney from October 9 to October 21, with high-performance manager Clint McKay supervising the group.

Twining is set to take over from McKay when his current commitments with the national team end. Thus, the Renegades will enter the competition under the guidance of their interim coach.

“I'm thrilled to be given this opportunity and to lead such a talented group of players in the next chapter of their journey. We've got a fabulous culture here, and a fabulous group of players, and I'm really looking forward to the challenge to take them to the next level and build upon the incredible success the club has achieved in recent years,” said Gavan Twining.

In addition to working with the national team, he has expressed his excitement about being able to share his knowledge of the game with the Renegades. Before departing for Melbourne, Twining will continue to play for Australia's women's team, which has a busy international schedule ahead.

Australia are due to host Bangladesh in a three-match ODI series at Allan Border Field, Brisbane, on October 9, 11 and 14, followed by three T20Is against New Zealand at North Sydney Oval on October 18, 20 and 22.

Gavan Twining will manage to honor his commitments to both teams, as he will be able to return to Melbourne for the Renegades after his engagements in Brisbane.

In addition to being in possession of current international experience and a general knowledge of the game at the highest level, Twining also knows the Australian environment and has already worked with Molineux.

The new head coach appointment comes at an exciting time for the Renegades. As the club is now under the direct jurisdiction of Cricket Australia and has seen a coaching staff reshuffle, Twining will need to bring his expertise and experience to the fore to elevate the Renegades to the top of the WBBL.

As such, WBBL12 will be much more than just another season for the Renegades, but rather the start of something big under Twining.