The Cricketer's in-depth look at the Hurricanes ahead of the new campaign, including player analysis, strengths, weaknesses, and full squad and fixtures listings
Coach: Jeff Vaughan
The new Hurricanes head coach taking over from Adam Griffith. Vaughan signed a three-year deal in July this year which will keep him at Hobart until BBL14.
Vaughan is no stranger to Tasmania or the Hurricanes, previously working as an assistant coach during 2017/18 before becoming the Tasmanian Tigers head coach in 2019. Vaughan will be bidding to take Hurricanes one step further having reached the playoffs in four of the last five seasons. The former South Australian cricketer has the backing of head of strategy Ricky Ponting but the dynamic between the two will be intriguing.
Captain: Matthew Wade
Captain and chief gloveman since 2018 as well as a regular in the Australian set up. A left-hander known for his prolific striking was steady during last year's BBL, scoring 325 runs throughout his 13 innings at a strike rate of 134.85. BBL glory continues to evade him.
Overseas stars
Zak Crawley: A surprising bit of recruitment from Hurricanes, with the England Test opener arriving for his first BBL spell. Crawley will act as a replacement for leg-spinning allrounder Shadab Khan who will miss the second half of the BBL due to his international commitments, arriving after the Pakistan Tests. The Kent opener is no novice when it comes to T20, averaging just under 30 and scoring with a strike rate of 145.08. But his lack of overseas T20 experience means he has plenty to prove. Ponting is an admirer, particularly after his 77 in the Sydney Ashes Test. Hitting England's fastest Test century by an opener is a good way to start the winter.
Faheem Ashraf: Known for his power hitting and seam bowling the Hurricanes have added a solid bowling allrounder in Faheem for his first franchise competition outside of Asia. The 28-year-old has 146 wickets at an average of 26.43.
Asif Ali: Another Pakistan international bound for their first BBL spell. A middle-order batter who strikes at 147 and can give the innings punch at the death. However, it has been a tough 2022 for Asif, who endured a quiet World Cup and whose average sits in single figures this year. Has plenty to prove with plenty of competition for the overseas spots.
Jimmy Neesham: The New Zealand allrounder's decision to opt out of a central contract sees him sign up for a first BBL contract with Hurricanes, standing in for Faheem during the England Tests. An IPL regular, Neesham brings with him experience of more than 200 T20s, a strike rate of 159 in the international game and an entertaining Twitter account. Offers a a sixth bowling option and plenty of depth to the Hurricanes squad.
Zak Crawley is among Hobart's overseas signings [Harry Trump/Getty Images]
Changes from 2021/22
Three Pakistanis, two members of the squad that went within one match of a second men's T20 World Cup titles, were picked up during the overseas draft. Asif and Faheem will provide punch, guile and skill in place of Colin Ingram, Will Jacks, Dawid Malan and Keemo Paul. Losing Shadab Khan is a blow but Crawley jets in after the Pakistan Tests while Neesham begins with campaign before Faheem's arrival.
Elsewhere, Chris Tremain has returned after a few years at Melbourne Renegades while Billy Stanlake has also swapped Melbourne for Hobart after leaving Stars. Perhaps the most significant arrival comes behind the scenes, with Ponting arriving on a three-year deal as head of strategy.
How did they do in 2021/22?
Seven wins and six bonus points - including three in defeat - helped Hurricanes reach the Eliminator for the third time in four seasons. Faced with Adelaide Strikers, who they had beaten once in the group stage, Wade's side failed in pursuit of 189 at the MCG.
Best finish: Runners-up (BBL03, BBL07)
BATTING
Power hitters
Tim David has scored 606 runs at a strike rate of 153.42 and smashed 33 sixes in his BBL career, while Asif will be there to assist him with a strike rate of 147.85 in T20s. D'Arcy Short and Ben McDermott will support Wade in one of the best top three in the competition, which should ensure a brisk and solid start. Even though Wade managed only three fixtures last season, the keeper-batter scored 105 runs, including an 86 against the giants Sydney Sixers. McDermott scored his 577 runs at a strike rate of 153.87, hitting two centuries and averaging 48.08 along the way.
Anchor
Short will generally take on this role if Wade is in attack mode. They also have Caleb Jewell, who can come in at No.3 or No.4 and hold this batting line-up together. He scored 216 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 129.34 for the Hurricanes last season. Crawley, whose role in this side is likely to come in the middle order, is a supreme ball striker and can provide calm if required. Though not a certain starter, losing Peter Handscomb does reduce the Hurricanes' options in this area.
Finisher
Last year the onus was mostly on David. The Australia international scored 218 runs with a strike rate of 163.91 for the Hurricanes last season. Asif is well placed to act as his support with a PSL record that reads 1,016 runs at a strike rate of 158.08 for Islamabad United, and the Hurricanes will be hopeful of a similar performance from him this season. Neesham completes the Hurricanes' world-class line-up as one of the premier death batters on the planet. His strike-rate is a touch below 177 between overs and 16 and 20 for New Zealand.
Problem areas
Left-handed opening duo Wade and Short are vulnerable to an off-spinner in the powerplay and that may have to lead to a re-think.
Aside from David, there is a lack of experience playing on the big Australian ground and it may take time to strike upon a settled line-up.
Tim David is Hobart's star batter [Quinn Rooney/Getty Images]
BOWLING
Speed merchants
Hurricanes have a few speedsters in their ammunition this season. Riley Meredith has been a consistent performer for a number of years. He took 16 wickets in 11 games - passing the fifty mark in the BBL - last season at an economy rate of 7.94. If Billy Stanlake can stay fit his big frame and extra pace will be an asset but 51 matches in seven seasons for Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Stars tells its own story.
Variety in the pace ranks comes in the form of left-armer Joel Paris and Tremain, a BBL winner with Renegades. Nathan Ellis was overlooked by Australia for the T20 World Cup but enjoyed a fine 2022 in England, helping Hampshire win the Blast and feels like the natural option at the death given his skills.
Variations
Hobart Hurricanes do not have a star name in their spin ranks with leg-spinners Wil Parker and Patrick Dooley leading the way. Parker has played seven BBL matches but suffered a bump down to earth last season, going for 42 in four overs in the Eliminator defeat to Strikers. Dooley has played a single T20 but has been preparing at the T10 League, where he took five wickets and finished with an economy rate of 9.62. Short and David bowled in a dozen of the Hurricanes' matches each last term, and they'll have another crucial role to play.
Problem areas
The aforementioned spin department looks thin and inexperienced following Shadab's decision to skip the tournament and is an area Hurricanes haven't been able to properly cover in the days leading up to the competition.
Riley Meredith has been a consistent performer for a number of years [Mike Owen/Getty Images]
Who takes the gloves?
Skipper Wade will keep wicket this season, with the schedule ensuring he should be available for a full campaign. Only five gloveman have more dismissals in BBL history.
Squad: Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Caleb Jewell, Shadab Khan, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Joel Paris, Wil Parker, D'Arcy Short, Matthew Wade, Billy Stanlake, Paddy Dooley, Chris Tremain, Mac Wright, Zak Crawley (overseas replacement for Shadab Khan), Jimmy Neesham (overseas replacement)
Fixtures: December 16 – Melbourne Stars (Melbourne Cricket Ground, 6.05am GMT), December 19 - Perth Scorchers (University of Tasmania Stadium, 8.15am), December 22 - Sydney Sixers (SCG, 8.15am), December 24 - Melbourne Renegades (Blundstone Arena, 4.30am), December 31 - Sydney Thunder (Lavington Sports Ground, 4.30am), January 2 - Adelaide Strikers (Blundstone Arena, 8.15am), January 5 - Adelaide Strikers (Blundstone Arena, 8.15am), January 7 - Melbourne Renegades (Marvel Stadium, 7.05am), January 9 - Melbourne Stars (Blundstone Arena, 8.15am), January 15 - Sydney Thunder (Blundstone Arena, 2.40am), January 18 - Perth Scorchers (Blundstone Arena, 8.40am), January 20 - Brisbane Heat (Gabba, 9am), January 23 - Sydney Sixers (Blundstone Arena, 8.15am), January 25 - Brisbane Heat (University of Tasmania Stadium, 2.40am)
Possible starting XI: Ben McDermott, Matthew Wade, D'Arcy Short, Asif Ali, Tim David, Jimmy Neesham, Shadab Khan, Nathan Ellis, Riley Meredith, Billy Stanlake, Wil Parker
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