The all-rounder at the heart of the side
Sutherland's job is to do everything. He bowls in the powerplay and at the death, bats in the middle order, and captains — he has led Victoria and has captained the Renegades before. The BBL|16 captaincy is still to be confirmed, but whoever wears the armband, Sutherland is the on-field leader.
His value is his completeness. There are better pure batters and better pure bowlers in the league, but few players who do both jobs as well as he does, and his presence lets the Renegades balance their side: an extra batter when he bowls, an extra bowler when he bats. He is a big man who hits the ball a long way and bowls in the mid-130s, and he has been the face of the Renegades' Victorian core for years. The club gave him a contract through BBL|17 because he is the player the next generation — Dixon, Peake, Stow, Archer — looks to.
Squad note: the Renegades have announced 15 players so far, as of 31 October 2026. The full squad has not been announced — clubs can carry up to 18 players and are still adding names — so this page will be updated as the club confirms more signings.
From Victoria's captain to Australia
Sutherland came through Victoria's system as a teenage all-rounder with a famous name — his father James was Cricket Australia's chief executive — and made his mark early, captaining Australia at the Under-19 World Cup before becoming Victoria's captain at a young age.
His international breakthrough came in February 2024, when he made his ODI debut for Australia against West Indies. It was the reward for years of consistent domestic cricket, where his Shield record as a bowling all-rounder and his white-ball hitting had made him one of the most respected players in the country. He has not yet become an Australia regular, but he is in the frame, and a strong BBL|16 as the Renegades' senior all-rounder keeps him there.
Where he fits in the Renegades
The Renegades' squad is built around its Victorian core, and Sutherland is the core's leader. He bats in the middle order behind Fraser-McGurk, Brown and Bairstow, and bowls the overs that matter — the powerplay when a wicket is needed, the death when the game is on the line.
His captaincy experience also matters because the BBL|16 captain is still to be confirmed. If he takes the armband, he leads a side with three international stars and a group of young Victorians; if he does not, he is still the senior player the captain turns to. Either way, the Renegades' season will be shaped by how much Sutherland does with bat and ball.
The BBL Points Table will carry the standings once the season starts — the Renegades missed the finals last season, and the climb back starts in Chennai.
What’s next
Will Sutherland starts BBL|16 in Chennai on 12 December, against the defending champions — the Victorian captain in Renegades colours for the first time this season.
The full list of every BBL fixture is on the BBL Schedule, with the Chennai opener first.
- Match 1 — vs Perth Scorchers: Sat 12 Dec, 2:40 PM IST · Chennai
- Match 9 — vs Sydney Sixers: Tue 22 Dec, 1:45 PM IST · Sydney Cricket Ground
- vs Hobart Hurricanes: Thu 24 Dec · Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
- Melbourne derby — vs Melbourne Stars: Sat 16 Jan · Melbourne Cricket Ground
Follow every Renegades result as it happens on SialTV, with the points table updated after every match day.
Frequently asked questions
Has Will Sutherland captained the Renegades?
Yes, he has captained the Renegades before, and he captains Victoria. The BBL|16 captaincy is still to be confirmed.
When did Will Sutherland debut for Australia?
He made his ODI debut for Australia against West Indies in February 2024.
When does Will Sutherland play his first match for Melbourne Renegades?
His first match is Match 1 against Perth Scorchers on Saturday 12 December 2026, starting at 2:40 PM IST at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai — the first BBL match ever played outside Australia.