Nathan Ellis installed as captain and some successful recruitment raises hopes Hurricanes can be contenders again at BBL13. But followers know better than to get excited too soon...
A season of ifs, buts and maybes but ultimately one of familiar disappointments for Hurricanes. They are not the bridesmaids of the BBL, but the uncle you forget to invite to the reception.
The eternal question - will this year be different? - hangs over the 2023-34 season but there is hope of an improvement on the sixth-place finish which saw them narrowly miss out on the playoffs last January.
Recruitment has been shrewd, improving areas of weakness and strengthening others, while they will take little damage when their rivals will lose players to international and franchise commitments and be forced into 11th-hour additions.
Thirteenth time lucky? Don't bet on it, but Hurricanes should be a force this term.
Coach: Jeff Vaughan
A change in leadership made little difference during an inconsistent first season for the Hurricanes. Vaughan had operated under Adam Griffith, which included a stint as batting coach, before leaving Australia to coach Tasmania on a full-time basis following the departure of Justin Langer. Contracted until the end of next season, ending the run without a playoff finish is a must. Enjoyed a low-key playing career, playing 52 matches for South Australia, scoring over 1,700 runs.
Captain: Nathan Ellis
After 52 matches at the helm and signing a new contract to 2026, Matthew Wade has been replaced by Nathan Ellis for the 2023/24 season. Heading into his sixth campaign, the death bowling specialist has led on two previous occasions, winning both. "He embodies everything the Hurricanes stand for; a great work ethic, resilience and a fantastic attitude towards the game and his teammates," said Vaughan.
How strong is the batting?
Tim David's love affair with the BBL continued last season, scoring 354 runs at 39.33. A death overs specialist, he strikes at 188.18 during the final four overs and remains the epicentre of the Hurricanes line-up.
But having a strong finisher doesn't work unless you have strong foundations and in Caleb Jewell (809 runs, strike rate 128.41), Ben McDermott (2,335, 138.25), Sam Heazlett (840, 123.89) and Matthew Wade (2,463, 140.98) the Hurricanes certainly have that.
Pinching Sam Hain, who spent last season with Heat, was a crucial pick-up during the draft. Fresh from making a long-awaited England debut last summer and not involved in the West Indies, a full campaign could be particularly fruitful. He averaged 96.20 during Birmingham Bears' run to the Blast quarter-finals just last summer.
You will struggle to find an area of the innings that Hurricanes struggle. They returned the third-best run-rate in the powerplay and at the death, and the best in the middle overs. But that never fully translated itself into results. They lost five of their eight matches chasing, falling narrowly short against the Sixers - when a late salvo couldn't make up for falling well behind the required rate - and against Heat when David couldn't conquer Spencer Johnson; that result proved pivotal in the final shake-up.
Nathan Elis has been installed as captain for the 2023/24 season (Simon Sturzaker/Getty Images)
How strong is the bowling?
On paper at least this should be the Hurricanes' strong suit. Nathan Ellis is a specialist in the final four, possessing a career economy rate below nine-an-over. He and Riley Meredith combined for 39 wickets in 14 matches last term and are a potent pair at either end of the inning, with the latter typically deployed in the powerplay. How the captaincy affects Ellis' displays will make for fascinating viewing.
Billy Stanlake hasn't played a BBL match since January 2021 but having come through the opening rounds of The Marsh Cup there are some optimistic signs. Having his intensity to call upon in the middle overs is a critical element in the Hurricanes' armoury.
Chris Jordan adds experience of over 200 T20s into the equation as another option at the sharp end of the innings. He will provide cover for Joel Paris, now a Melbourne Star, who was key in defending low targets, 123 against Melbourne Renegades and 121 against Heat.
Wrist-spinner Paddy Dooley caught the eye last season with his funky set-up and action but whether batters can find an antidote remains to be seen. He and new recruit Peter Hatzoglou will be key to tying up the middle overs when Hurricanes conceded an economy rate of 8.36 - the worst in the competition during 2022.
Why should the fans be excited?
Not only is this an improved collection of players, but Hurricanes have strengthened in the right areas, particularly in the spin department and seam-bowling depth. Having missed out by just a single point, beating finalists Heat by two runs but missing out as results went against them, there must be confidence they can return to the playoffs.
Returning to recruitment, with no Australia Test players and none of their overseas stars having other commitments, this should be a united squad. Amongst that group is Corey Anderson, a wildcard having been selected late in the draft, whose last cricket came in the United States.
Sam Hain returns to the BBL after making his England debut last summer (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Why fans should be worried?
The Hurricanes know better than to get excited about a potential title bid, being one of two sides never to have won the BBL. Nevertheless, that status will always be held against them until they overcome those demons.
The biggest question mark hovers above Ellis and how effective he is without the ball while taking on the Hurricanes captaincy permanently for the first time. The top-four need to fire too, to avoid David morphing into an anchor.
Hurricanes also need to find a way of blending form at home and on the road. Five of their seven wins came away in 2021-22, but they flipped that record last term, as all six of their victories came at either Bellerive Oval or York Park.
Squad: Iain Carlisle, Tim David, Paddy Dooley, Nathan Ellis, Peter Hatzoglou, Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Billy Stanlake, Matthew Wade, Mac Wright, Chris Jordan, Sam Hain, Corey Anderson, Liam Guthrie, Nikhil Chaudhary, Sam Heazlett
Fixtures: December 11 – Sydney Sixers (h, 8.15am), December 20 – Perth Scorchers (a, 8.15am), December 23 – Melbourne Renegades (h, 8.15am), December 28 - Melbourne Stars (h, 8.15am), January 1 - Sydney Thunder (h, 5am), January 4 - Melbourne Renegades (a, 8.15am), January 7 - Brisbane Heat (a, 8.15am), January 9 - Adelaide Strikers (a, 8.15am), January 11 - Adelaide Strikers (h, 8.15am), January 15 - Melbourne Stars (a, 8.15am)
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.