Stepien savours experience with Melbourne Renegades in BBL

In a whirlwind stint with the Melbourne Renegades, the former White Hills keeper-batsman made his BBL debut against the Sydney Sixers at the SCG on Saturday and played in Monday's win over the Brisbane Heat at Marvel Stadium.

"Having a little taste of it makes me more hungry to get to that level,'' Stepien said on Tuesday.

"I want to get back to it next year. Everyone dreams of being a professional cricketer and even living that for just five days was amazing."

Stepien relished the opportunity to play under Australian ODI and Twenty20 captain Aaron Finch and alongside a host of players with international experience.

"It was such a great experience to be around the likes of Aaron Finch, Dan Christian and Kane Richardson...just seeing the way they go about it,'' Stepien said.

"You can learn so much about the way they prepare and the little things they do to be elite athletes.

"Everyone was really welcoming and it was a such a professional environment. It was an unbelievable experience with the Renegades."

Saturday's debut against the Sixers was a day Stepien and his family will never forget.

In club cricket he plays in front of less than 100 spectators. On Saturday at the SCG he had a crowd of about 26,000 fans.

Stepien stood behind the stumps as Australian star Steve Smith smashed an unbeaten 66 off 40 balls for the Sixers.

While Smith's batting on the field was outstanding, it was what he did after the game that impressed Stepien the most.

"After the game we had a couple of beers with the Sixers players in the rooms and Steve (Smith) came up to me and congratulated me on my debut,'' Stepien said.

"He didn't have to do that. It's little things like that that I'll never forget."

Those who have played with or against Stepien in the BDCA will tell you he likes to get chirpy when he's wicket-keeping.

He admitted he kept his mouth shut when Smith was at the crease on Saturday.

"I didn't say too much to Steve. It was a bit surreal keeping up to the stumps with Steve right there,'' he said.

"Even yesterday playing against AB De Villiers and Marnus (Labuschagne) and those boys was surreal.

"Three weeks ago I was playing with all the boys at the (White Hills) Demons... and then to be on the same field as Steve Smith as he took the absolute mickey out of the game was unreal."

Stepien didn't get a bat in his two BBL matches. Despite making his name as an opener, the hard-hitting left-hander was listed at number eight for the Renegades.

"The team wanted to use me as a finisher in the lower-order and that was fine with me,'' he said.

"I just loved being out there. It didn't matter that I didn't bat."

Stepien said the support he received from Bendigo people was something he'd never forget.

"I just want to say thank you to everyone who has given me support in the last few days,'' he said.

"My phone has been going off like a rocket. I've tried to get back to everyone, but if I haven't got back to you yet I just want to say thanks for the support because it means a lot to me.

"Yesterday in the warm up before the Heat game I heard a vice in the crowd yell out 'good on you, Steppo'. It's so warming to know that everyone in Bendigo is behind you."

Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.