HomeTeam PreviewWBBL 06 Review: Batting Heavy Hobart Hurricanes Eye For an Improved Performance

WBBL 06 Review: Batting Heavy Hobart Hurricanes Eye For an Improved Performance

Hobart Hurricanes, who made it to the semifinals in the first two seasons under the leadership of Heather Knight has failed to continue their momentum. They never qualified for the semi in the next three and won 23 out of the 70 matches over 5 seasons. They have the lowest winning percentage among all the teams.

Played- 70, Won- 23, Lost- 47, Win%- 32. 86

WBBL 05 result: 7th

Hobart will try to forget the last season as they ended in 7th position with four wins out of their 14 encounters.

Best Result: Semifinal ( 2015/2016, 2016/2017)

Women’s Big Bash League Team Analysis:

This year, Rachael Priest and Naomi Stalenberg have scrapped their loyalty towards Thunders and moved to Hobart Hurricanes. Priest has been the go-to person in the top order while Stalenberg along with Harmanpreet Kaur and Alex Blackwell took care of the middle order for Thunders. Priest and Stalenberg had accumulated 296 and 200 runs respectively in the last season.

Both of them will look to make use of their form this season as well. Priest will West Indies star Hayley Matthews in order to give Hurricanes a blistering start. Mathews who is not in good touch in recent times will try to rectify herself to regain her class.

Hobart Hurricanes will have a new-look top order after recruiting New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Rachel Priest and local batter Naomi Stalenberg from the Sydney Thunder. After struggling to find an opening combination that worked last season, the addition of Priest in particular addresses an area where Hobart was found wanting in WBBL 05.

The re-signing of explosive South African allrounder Chloe Tryon, who averaged 35 with the incredible strike rate of 178 last season, is another win for the batting line-up, while Belinda Vakarewa has also recommitted to the club after a stellar season that saw her finish as the competition’s leading pace bowler.

ALSO READ: Boosted with the Cocktail of Young Guns and Experience, Sydney Thunder Striving for the Lost Glory

However, the Hurricanes have been dealt two major blows before the season has even started, with two members of their core contracted a group of 15, Australia pace ace Tayla Vlaeminck and leg-spinner Maisy Gibson, ruled out of the tournament due to injury.

With that in mind, Hobart Hurricanes have secured several replacement players – three local and one overseas – for WBBL 06. New Zealand allrounder Hayley Jensen has joined the club as an overseas replacement player, however, Hobart cannot immediately use her to replace Vlaeminck, who is an Australian marquee player.

Hobert Hurricanes
Corrine Hall © Steve Bell/Getty Images

West Indies allrounder Hayley Matthews, Tryon and Priest are already on Hobart’s books, and the three-player overseas limit means Jensen will only be elevated to the main list and available for selection if one of this trio is sidelined through injury, or called away on international commitments.

Chloe Abel, Nell Bryson Smith, Emily Smith are Hobart’s local replacement options and will travel with the squad to Sydney. Naomi Stalenberg has found a new home for the upcoming Rebel WBBL season, signing with the Hobart Hurricanes.

The Hurricanes are the final club to release their core 15-player list, confirming five final signings – including former Thunder batter Stalenberg – on Friday ahead of the start of WBBL 06 on October 25. Stalenberg will be reunited with a host of her former Thunder teammates at the Hurricanes, including powerful New Zealand batter-keeper Rachel Priest, whose move from Sydney to Hobart was announced in July.

Erica Kershaw (who moves from the Renegades), Amy Smith, Emma Thompson and Chloe Rafferty round out the Hurricanes’ group. Hobart have also secured several replacement players – three local and one overseas – for WBBL 06; two of whom will be immediately called upon after Australia pace ace Tayla Vlaeminck and leg-spinner Maisy Gibson were confirmed to have been ruled out of the entire tournament due to injury.

Vlaeminck is still on the comeback trail from a serious foot injury suffered in February. New Zealand allrounder Hayley Jensen has joined the club as an overseas replacement player, however, Hobart cannot immediately use her to replace Vlaeminck, who is an Australian marquee player.

West Indies allrounder Hayley Matthews, South Africa’s Chloe Tryon and Priest are already on Hobart’s books – with Matthews and Tryon currently in hotel quarantine in Adelaide – meaning Jensen will only be elevated to the main list and available for selection if one of those three are sidelined through injury, or called away due to international commitments.

ALSO READ: Amy Satterthwaite Lead Melbourne Renegades Eye For Good Show Based on Bowling Prominence

Strength:

The Batting is the strength of the Hurricanes this year with the players like Nicola Carey, Rachel Priest Hayley Matthews,  Naomi Stalenberg and Chloe Tryon. At the same time, Their seam bowling sensation Belinda Vakarewa is going to Have a great time ahead.

Weakness:

Though the top order is heavy, the lower middle order can be an area of concern for the Hurricanes. And the lack of depth is another area where they need to give more focus on.

WBBL 06 Squad of Hobart Hurricanes:

Nicola Carey (Aus), Tayla Vlaeminck (Aus), Hayley Matthews (WI), Rachel Priest (NZ), Chloe Tryon (SA), Emma Thompson, Maisy Gibson, Brooke Hepburn, Corinne Hall, Erica Kershaw, Sasha Moloney, Chloe Rafferty, Amy Smith, Naomi Stalenberg, Belinda Vakarewa

In:

Rachel Priest (Thunder), Naomi Stalenberg (Thunder), Erica Kershaw (Renegades), Chloe Rafferty, Amy Smith, Emma Thompson

Outs:

Erin Fazackerley (Renegades), Heather Knight (Thunder), Fran Wilson (England, replacement player), Stephanie Daffara, Katelyn Fryett, Meg Phillips, Emily Smith

Key Players:

Rachel Priest (WK), Naomi Stalenberg, Hayley Matthews, Nicola Carey, Chloe Tryon, Belinda Vakarewa,

Probable XI:

Rachel Priest (WK), Naomi Stalenberg, Hayley Matthews, Nicola Carey, Chloe Tryon, Corinne Hall (C), Sasha Moloney, Erica Kershaw, Brooke Hepburn, Belinda Vakarewa, Amy Smith

Fixtures:

October 25: vs Strikers, Hurstville Oval

October 26: vs Scorchers, Hurstville Oval

October 31: vs Heat, Showground Stadium

November 1: vs Stars, Drummoyne Oval

November 3: vs Renegades, Blacktown International Sports Park

November 7: vs Sixers, North Sydney Oval

November 8: vs Thunder, Hurstville Oval

November 10: vs Renegades, Blacktown International Sports Park

November 14: vs Sixers, Showground Stadium

November 15: vs Heat, Drummoyne Oval

November 17: vs Strikers, Hurstville Oval

November 18: vs Stars, Hurstville Oval

November 21: vs Scorchers, North Sydney Oval

November 22: vs Thunder, Drummoyne Oval

RELATED ARTICLES

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisment -

Recent article