There has been a bit of a changing of the guard, but the Hurricanes are proven performers against the odds.
WBBL|03 squad preview: Hurricanes
Previous WBBL|03 previews:
The squad: Corinne Hall (C), Emma Thompson, Erin Fazackerley, Brooke Hepburn, Georgia Redmayne, Veronica Pyke, Katelyn Fryett, Celeste Raack, Sasha Moloney, Veda Krishnamurthy (Ind), Lauren Winfield (Eng), Meg Phillips, Stefanie Daffara, Nicola Hancock, Hayley Matthews (WI)
In: Veda Krishnamurthy, Lauren Winfield, Stefanie Daffara (Thunder), Nicola Hancock
Out: Erin Burns (Sixers), Julie Hunter (retired), Amy Satterthwaite (Renegades), Heather Knight (injured)
The inside word with coach Julia Price: "There's a good vibe around the group - we have lost a few players, but we have picked up some really good young players. But we're also looking at our local players to step up. In the past, they've been left behind a little bit with the internationals trying to be the stars all the time and do all the work for the team. So it's sort of good that it might actually balance out the team a little bit and get our local players really being able to put their hand up and take wickets and get runs and contribute. We have been good with that in the past and we've gone for that feel again with the group. With Veda and Lauren coming in as our two internationals this year, they're not like the big superstar names, but they're very good players who've probably slipped under the radar a little bit, so we're really excited about having them in the group. Obviously we'd love to go one better in finals this year, but we're not getting too far ahead of ourselves at this stage. We'll play this weekend ... and hopefully get a couple of wins and keep working on how we can work as a unit, which is what we've done in the past."
The talking point: What will it take for the Hurricanes to make the Rebel WBBL final? The ’Cane Train has advanced to the semi-finals in the opening two seasons, but has crashed out both times. There has been something of a changing of the guard at the club, but the Tasmanian team have been able to hold onto the bulk of their local talent and have brought in a couple of exciting overseas recruits to bolster their list. Will the Corinne Hall-led outfit make a third consecutive finals appearance and can they overcome the last hurdle and win through to the grandest stage?
The WBBL|02 result: Fourth. The Hurricanes have made both WBBL finals series to date, but are yet to crack through to the decider. Heather Knight and Amy Satterthwaite performed well with the bat, compiling 334 and 323 runs respectively to sit in the top 11 in the league respectively, while Hayley Matthews (20 wickets), Satterthwaite (15) and Julie Hunter (13) ranked in the top nine wicket-takers.
The one to watch: Georgia Redmayne. The Hurricanes’ ‘keeper put in a season to remember in WBBL|02, making a solid 278 runs to go with her 12 dismissals – five stumpings and seven catches – which were the equal second highest in the league. It was a great effort in her first season in the competition, and with ever-increasing confidence and experience, the NSW-based Tasmanian adoptee will be looking to make an even bigger impact this time around. Her coach is eager to see her reap the rewards for the time and effort she has put into improving her game.
Image Id: 58D219D7FFC942C1999369174683ADD6 Image Caption: Erin Fazackerley celebrates a wicket for the Roar // Getty
The rising star: Erin Fazackerly. The niece of Kim Fazackerley – the first Tasmanian to represent Australia – the 19-year-old allrounder will be looking to carry her form from a promising start to the summer for Tasmanian Roar into the WBBL. She has made 85 runs across three WNCL matches to date, and took 2-13 when she represented the Governor-General’s XI against England in a tour match during the Commonwealth Bank Women’s Ashes.
The changes: Newly appointed Hobart Hurricanes captain Hall will lead a side with some handy international recruits, while the nucleus of talent has held strong. Indian batter Veda Krishnamurthy, who belted a rapid-fire 70 off just 45 balls against New Zealand during the ICC Women’s World Cup in July, joins the squad alongside England opener Lauren Winfield. There have been some big departures, with local Erin Burns and New Zealand’s Amy Satterthwaite joining interstate rivals, while former Australia seamer Julie Hunter has retired. England captain Heather Knight, who led the Hurricanes in the first two WBBL seasons, will sit out to manage a foot injury sustained during the Women’s World Cup earlier this year, with the post-Ashes period flagged early as recuperation time for the 26-year-old. But she will still have a presence with the club this summer, acting as a mentor for the group and support for Hall.
The fixtures:
December 9 v Strikers – Gliderol Stadium, Glenelg
December 10 v Strikers – Gliderol Stadium, Glenelg
December 17 v Sixers – Blundstone Arena
December 23 v Sixers – SCG
December 30 v Thunder – University of Tasmania Stadium
December 31 v Thunder – University of Tasmania Stadium
January 7 v Heat – Blundstone Arena
January 8 v Heat – Blundstone Arena
January 14 v Renegades – Blundstone Arena
January 15 v Renegades – Blundstone Arena
January 20 v Scorchers – WACA
January 21 v Scorchers – Lilac Hill, Perth
January 27 v Stars – MCG
January 28 v Stars – MCG