The Melbourne Renegades have made significant moves to strengthen their squad, securing the services of pace bowler Brendan Doggett and eyeing Hobart Hurricanes' title-winning opener Caleb Jewell, who is poised to join them before the Big Bash League’s (BBL) new player movement window closes on Thursday.

Doggett, who was part of Australia’s squad during the recent India Test series, joins the Renegades after spending the past two seasons with the Adelaide Strikers. Despite only claiming three wickets in six matches during BBL 14, Doggett brings valuable experience to the Renegades, having previously played four seasons with Sydney Thunder and starting his career at Brisbane Heat. His signing follows the Renegades securing Jason Behrendorff on a three-year deal after the Perth Scorchers failed to guarantee him a contract.

Renegades general manager James Rosengarten expressed confidence in Doggett's addition, praising his skills under pressure. “Brendan is an exciting addition to our squad, he's a skilful fast bowler with ability to execute under pressure and take important wickets,” Rosengarten said. “To pair him up with Tom [Rogers], Jason, Adam [Zampa] and Will [Sutherland], we believe we have a powerful bowling unit that boasts variety and the very highest-end talent."

Following a disappointing season in which the Renegades missed out on the finals for the fifth time in the last six years, the club has also focused on improving their top-order batting. ESPNcricinfo understands that Jewell, who played a key role in Hobart Hurricanes’ championship-winning campaign, is set to leave the Hurricanes and join the Renegades. Jewell complemented breakout opener Mitchell Owen during the title run, providing stability at the top of the order.

In other player movements, left-arm seam-bowling allrounder Hayden Kerr is expected to re-sign with Sydney Sixers on a two-year deal after attracting interest from several teams, including the Melbourne Stars. Kerr has been a consistent performer for the Sixers since his breakout season in BBL 11, taking nine wickets in ten matches this season.

Free agent D’Arcy Short is also expected to re-sign with the Adelaide Strikers, though the club is still evaluating its batting options. Short’s batting in BBL 14 included an average of 23.50 with a strike rate of 135 from nine matches, playing in various roles within the Strikers’ batting order.

Meanwhile, the Perth Scorchers have brought back left-arm quick Joel Paris on a one-year deal. Paris, who previously played for the Scorchers from BBL 5 to BBL 10, returns after a strong season with the Melbourne Stars. Scorchers high-performance boss Kade Harvey highlighted Paris's ability as a new-ball bowler, noting his impressive performances during the powerplay. Paris is expected to provide a valuable left-arm option for the Scorchers this season.

In another development, former Stars general manager Blair Crouch has stepped down after four seasons in the role. The Stars are expected to reshape the general manager position by separating cricket high-performance and list-management responsibilities, following the hiring of Clint McKay as the club’s T20 high-performance manager last year.

The upcoming season promises to be an exciting one as teams continue to adjust their squads ahead of the new BBL season. With key signings and player movements, the competition is expected to be even more fiercely contested.