For the Melbourne Renegades, nativity celebrations have started a few weeks early.
“I’ve been calling it Christmas Eve,” Renegades wicketkeeper Nicole Faltum told Fox Cricket on Saturday.
“Obviously Sunday being a big day, I’ve been calling it Christmas Day, so that’s been thrown around a little bit.”
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The Renegades, perpetual cellar dwellers in the Women’s Big Bash League, are preparing for their first final following a decade of frustration and heartbreak, facing the Brisbane Heat at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.
The Melbourne-based franchise has endured a tough trot in the T20 tournament, receiving the wooden spoon last season after winning two of their 14 group-stage contests.
But only 12 months later, the Renegades have skyrocketed to the top of the WBBL ladder, despite losing their first two matches in a reduced ten-game season, to secure a home final.
“There have been some players that have been there from the start, and they’ve been through some pretty tough and grim times with the Renegades, and last season was one of them,” Faltum said.
“They’ve always had the ability to have heaps of fun, but the success obviously takes a bit of a toll when you’re not getting that.
“I’m just so, so stoked for those girls. They’ve worked so hard over the last couple of years and to see some stuff come to fruition is really cool.
“It’s such a special moment.”
The Renegades’ success comes as added validation for Faltum, who signed for the club during the off-season after seven years at the Melbourne Stars.
The 24-year-old took the gloves from Josie Dooley, the Renegades’ first-choice wicketkeeper for the past five seasons, who is currently recovering from a stroke suffered while on holiday in Hawaii earlier this year.
Faltum, who debuted for the Stars in her teens and captained the side during the 2022 tournament, feels like she backed the right horse after the Renegades’ cross-town rivals finished last on the standings this season.
“I’m obviously stoked with my decision in the end to move across,” Faltum said.
“I’m absolutely loving my time at the Renegades and I feel extremely grateful that firstly they really wanted me, but as soon as I made the move I felt so welcomed, had a really big sense of belief instilled in me which was really nice.
“I’m absolutely loving my T20 cricket at the moment.”
Faltum has enjoyed a breakout season with the bat, compiling 131 runs at 32.75 with a strike rate of 135.05. The Victorian smacked an unbeaten 66 (42) in a tense ten-run victory against her former club during a Melbourne derby at the MCG, rescuing the Renegades after an early collapse of 5-48.
Her highest score following 79 Big Bash matches with the Stars was 22 not out.
“We were obviously in the s*** a little bit,” Faltum said of her match-winning knock.
“It just felt nice to be able to contribute to an actual win. It felt like it was an actual match-winning performance, which was really nice. I haven’t had the opportunity to do that heaps.
“I was just really stoked that I was able to do that.
“It probably did have a little bit more enjoyment behind it, being against the former side and against some of my really close mates, so it feels nice to have the edge on them a little bit.”
With the assistance of Victorian batting coach Blake Reed, Faltum developed her power-hitting during the off-season, a vital attribute for any T20 finisher. While previously relying on laps and sweeps to score behind the wicket, the right-hander has worked on becoming a 360-degree player that can access other pockets in the field.
Faltum also had nothing but praise for Renegades coach Simon Helmot and captain Sophie Molineux for the support they’ve provided since her move.
“Since I walked in the door, I was just made to feel really, really backed and really trusted and I felt really respected,” Faltum continued.
“The environment is just set up to be able to have heaps of fun and play with so much freedom, and I think that’s really helped a lot of players this season.”
Faltum is one of many wicketkeepers pushing their case for national honours — with captain Alyssa Healy approaching the twilight of her career, Australia could be searching for another keeper within the next couple of years, pending whether Beth Mooney decides to play as a specialist batter.
Sydney Thunder’s Tahlia Wilson and Brisbane Heat’s Georgia Redmayne have also impressed at domestic level, while Faltum has featured in two recent tours with Australia A.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t say that would be in the very back of my head somewhere,” Faltum confessed.
“I think I have quite a good ability to just shut it out, and a lot of that stuff is taken out of my control.
“If I’m just playing good cricket and I’m loving it and I’m enjoying it, then you never know what might happen.”
National selector Shawn Flegler and Australian coach Shelly Nitschke have relayed a consistent message to Faltum when discussing her national ambitions — keep doing what you’re doing.
“My glovework is really important, that’s what they’ve really emphasised,” Faltum said
“I absolutely love keeping, so that’s been number one.
“(The messaging is) just basically kept doing what I’m doing, which is quite nice to hear.”
The Renegades, fresh off an eight-day break, had their first training session at the MCG on Friday, at which point it started to sink in for Faltum that she’d be playing a Big Bash final at the biggest cricket venue in the southern hemisphere.
“It’s actually incredible,” Faltum said.
“To play at the MCG is one thing, an unbelievable experience, but to play in a WBBL standalone final is another thing.
“It’s only hit me this last week really. I’ve probably been thinking about who else has played and who else has sat in the changerooms.
“It’s probably only sunk in the last couple of days how big of a deal it’s going to be.”
The Heat, coming off six consecutive wins, stand in the way of the Renegades’ maiden WBBL triumph. The Brisbane-based franchise emerged victorious when the two clubs previously faced off in the WBBL, October’s 28-run victory in Brisbane.
The WBBL final between the Renegades and the Heat gets underway on Sunday at 1.20pm AEDT.
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