Hurricanes' new Hope for BBL|16 as Windies skipper returns

West Indies white-ball captain Shai Hope is back at Hobart Hurricanes for KFC BBL|16, with the wicketkeeper-batter signing on for the full season as the club reshapes its overseas recruiting.

Hope's return comes two years after his five-match stint during Hobart’s BBL|14 championship campaign and gives the Hurricanes an experienced option at the top of the order following Matthew Wade’s retirement.

It also signals a change to Hobart's overseas mix after England allrounder Chris Jordan's two-year deal expired at the end of last season. Jordan, a key member of the Hurricanes' maiden BBL triumph, remains unsigned and has been linked with rival clubs.

Hope captains West Indies men in both ODI and T20I cricket and has scored more than 1700 T20 international runs striking at more than 136.

The 32-year-old first joined the Hurricanes for BBL|14 via the now abandoned draft but played only five matches before leaving to fulfil commitments in the UAE's T20 league. His availability for the entire BBL|16 campaign was no doubt a significant factor in Hobart's decision to bring him back this summer.

One of his previous five appearances was in their 74 all-out against the Renegades on a tough pitch in Geelong, with the right-hander out to improve on his 103 runs at 20 from his first campaign with the 'Canes.

Hope's ability to combine destructive top-order batting with wicketkeeping made him a priority target for the Hurricanes as they planned for life after Wade.

Hurricanes' high performance general manager Salliann Beams said the club wanted a player capable of adding experience and stability to its revamped top order.

"Following Matthew's retirement, we knew we needed to add an experienced player who could have an impact at the top of the order and also provide us with another quality wicketkeeping option, and Shai ticks both those boxes," Beams said in a statement.

"We saw during his first stint with us the quality and experience he brings, and his T20 game has continued to develop since then.

"Importantly, having Shai available for the entire tournament gives us some real stability. He already knows our environment and a number of the players, so we're really excited to welcome him back to Hobart."

Hope, who is currently in India leading the Windies' three-ODI and five-match T20I tour, added: "I really enjoyed my time in Hobart a couple of seasons ago, so I'm very excited to be coming back to the Hurricanes for BBL|16.

"It's a great group and I already know a (few) of the guys, so I'm looking forward to getting back into the environment and building on those relationships.

"The club has obviously enjoyed some great success since I was last there, and I'm looking forward to getting back to Hobart, contributing wherever I can and doing everything I can to help the team have another successful season."

Hobart had already landed star Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa on a two-year deal in another big addition to their BBL|16 roster.

Hope, fresh off a 332-run Caribbean Premier League season where he averaged 47 at No.3 for Guyana Amazon Warriors, has opened for most of his T20 international career (42 of 68 innings) and looms as a potential partner for Mitch Owen at the top of the Hurricanes' line-up.