England villain Jonny Bairstow not sweating Australian reception in BBL foray with the Renegades

Englishman Jonny Bairstow is walking into traditional enemy territory, signing up for a summer in Australia’s Big Bash League.

The Melbourne Renegades have added the two-time World Cup winner and 100-Test veteran to their squad for BBL|16.

The Yorkshireman will be best known to Australian cricket fans for being controversially stumped when wandering out of his crease believing the ball was dead in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s in 2023.

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Bairstow, now 37, hasn’t played in Australia since but is ready to embrace the inevitable talk about the infamous Ashes moment upon his return.

“That was (three) years ago now … there’s a lot of water that’s passed under that bridge,” he told cricket.com.au in an interview from his home.

“It’s obviously still talked about … but it should be great fun, and I’m sure it will be taken in the right way.”

Englishman Jonny Bairstow has signed with the Renegades for this year’s BBL tournament. Credit: @TheRenegades/InstagramThe controversial Englishman knows how to get under the skin of the Aussies. Credit: AAP

The swashbuckling wicket-keeper batsman was a member of England’s touring side that thumped Australia 4-1 in a 2017/18 ODI series.

He scored two of his 12 Test centuries in Australia but only won the Ashes on home soil in 2015.

“There’s been some great battles, hasn’t there, over many years in all formats,” Bairstow said.

“I think that, first and foremost, Australian fans enjoy people that get stuck in that are very passionate about playing cricket and want to win, and that’s something that wholeheartedly I can say that I’ve done over my career, and that doesn’t stop.

“The reaction from the Renegades fans I’m sure will be pretty good, and by the other fans as well, there will be some fun along the way, there’s bound to be, but that’s part and parcel of playing as an overseas in the Big Bash.”

Bairstow lost his spot in England’s Test side after reaching 100 caps and his last appearance for the national team came in a T20 World Cup semi-final defeat to India in 2024.

He follows Ben Stokes into the BBL, with the former English captain joining the Adelaide Strikers after his sudden retirement from international cricket in June.

Bairstow signed with the Melbourne Stars in 2020 but pulled out after England recalled him for two-Test tour of Sri Lanka.

He has maintained an interest in the Australian T20 league from afar, with matches shown in the morning back home.

“It’s always been something on the radar to try and come and play in,” Bairstow said.

Bairstow will reconnect with Renegades captain Will Sutherland after the pair played for Yorkshire in the 2025 T20 Blast.

Renegades head coach Luke Ronchi hailed Bairstow as one of the most damaging white-ball batters in world cricket over a long period.

“He’s played 100 Test matches, won World Cups and performed in some of the biggest games and competitions around the world,” Ronchi said.

“That experience is incredibly valuable to our group.”

The Renegades, whose licence Cricket Australia plans to sell in full to private investors, won their sole BBL title in 2018/19 and have only featured in the top four once in the eight-team competition’s last seven seasons.