Harry Dixon signs with Melbourne Renegades, Big Bash League, Australia U19 vs England

Harry Dixon, one of Australian cricket’s rising stars, has signed his first major league contract with the Renegades, completing a two-year deal with the Melbourne-based franchise ahead of the 13th edition of the T20 tournament.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Renegades announced that the 18-year-old Victorian, who currently represents Australia A in England, had committed to the club until 2025.

“I’ve always wanted to play in the Big Bash and it’s great to be joining a team with some of Australia’s biggest names,” Dixon said in a statement.

“I can’t wait to share a dressing room with the likes of Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, Nic Maddinson and Nathan Lyon. I’m excited to commit to learning as much as I can and becoming the best player I can.”

Watch Australia’s tour of South Africa on Kayo Sports. Every game live and on demand. Join Kayo now and start streaming instantly >

Dixon, a St Kilda Cricket Club product, hit the headlines last week after scoring 167 in the first four-day competition against England Under-19s at Worcester’s New Road.

Facing the Dukes’ swinging ball under overcast skies, the left-handed opener reached his century in just 109 deliveries and occupied the crease for five and a half hours to give the tourists a 174-run lead in the first innings.

Dixon hit 30 boundaries and two sixes during his 209-ball knock and backed this up with a blistering 83 (52) in the second innings as the Australians claimed an eight-wicket victory.

“He’s a wonderful ball striker,” former Australian all-rounder Daniel Christian, who currently manages the England-winning Australian under-19 team, told Fox Cricket.

“If he commits to spending long periods of time in the goal area, he can get himself into really good positions.

“He has a wonderful ability to step up and win gears. That’s what we saw over the four days where he went pretty tough at different stages and got the better of the bowlers. But then he’s able to hit back and defend when he needs to… that was a real highlight of that first innings, he was really impressive.

“Then in the second inning it was like he and (opening partner) Sam Konstas had a competition with each other to see who could hit the biggest six. It was an extraordinary blow. They struck whenever they wanted.”

Dixon, who represented Vic Metro at the Under-19 National Championships, made his first grade debut for St Kilda as a 16-year-old in the summer of 2021/22. He scored his first premier cricket century earlier this year before scoring 148 (125) in a one-day match against England’s under-19 team in Brisbane.

“The game certainly seems like that these days,” Christian continued.

“Opening batters come out and put a lot more pressure on the bowling teams from the first ball rather than just hanging around. Harry is such a player.”

The Renegades begin their BBL season on December 8th at the SCG against the Sydney Sixers.