The Cricketer takes a look at the Hurricanes squad ahead of WBBL08
Coach: Dan Marsh
Captain: Elyse Villani
Overseas: Mignon du Preez, Hayley Jensen, Lizelle Lee
Last season: Sixth
How did they do last year?
Overall, it was another disappointing year for Hobart. Salliann Beams, the head coach, has since moved on, however, in a winter of upheaval at Hurricanes. She has moved into a new role as Cricket Tasmania's general manager of high performance, with Dan Marsh taking over.
Last season, teenage allrounder Ruth Johnston was the only Australian to score more than 200 runs for Hobart in what was in the main a poor campaign. Johnston, at least, was a shining light: she also claimed 13 wickets, as did Nicola Carey and Tayla Vlaeminck. Molly Strano, the leading wicket-taker in Women's Big Bash history – picked up 15.
With the bat, though, they were over-reliant on overseas runs: Mignon du Preez comfortably top-scored with 414 in 14 games and Rachel Priest made almost half of her runs in a single century, but there was precious little else. Richa Ghosh, an exciting signing on paper, averaged just 12.46.
Mignon du Preez is among Hobart Hurricanes' overseas players [Getty Images]
Who are their key players?
It has been a busy off-season, not only in a coaching change that came shortly after Beams had initially signed a contract extension. Priest and Ghosh are gone, as are one-time Aussie quicks Vlaeminck and Belinda Vakarewa, who began her WBBL career with Sydney Thunder before moving to Hobart, where she enjoyed a major breakthrough year in 2019, taking 20 wickets – the third-most in the competition – and earning an international debut.
She has moved back to New South Wales, though, and has gone uncontracted. Vlaeminck, meanwhile, is arguably the quickest bowler in the women's game: she has moved on to Melbourne Renegades, which is a long-term blow, though injury means that she wouldn't have featured in this year's tournament in any case.
Issy Wong was initially signed as a straight replacement, but the England fast bowler has been withdrawn by the ECB to manage a back problem. She has been replaced by Hayley Jensen, who was one of the few overseas players in the inaugural Women's Caribbean Premier League with Trinbago Knight Riders.
Du Preez will once again be key, having been entrusted with overseas duties once again despite her ODI retirement being followed by a desperately lean Hundred with Trent Rockets. She is joined by compatriot Lizelle Lee, another international retiree but also one of the most brutal T20 batters in the women's game. She told The Cricketer ahead of The Hundred that quitting South Africa duty has added pressure to her franchise exploits.
One-cap Heather Graham is a handy addition from Perth Scorchers, while the big news is the arrival of Elyse Villani, the fourth-highest run-scorer since the WBBL began and also one of the most improved players on the circuit in that time.
What are their biggest strengths?
It's difficult to look past the coup of bringing in Villani as an opening batter and captain. She ended up skippering Trent Rockets during The Hundred after taking over from Nat Sciver and, if she were from any other country, would still be playing international cricket. She is stuck on 99 appearances for Australia, while – ironically – her Hurricanes debut will be her hundredth appearance in the Women's Big Bash.
Carey and Graham are both quietly effective allrounders, each with international experience to their name, while Strano is as wily as they come – an off-spinner who has continued to enjoy success, even as batters have become better at clearing the ropes. Watch out for 17-year-old leggie Amy Smith.
The Hurricanes failed to make the knockout stages in 2021 [Getty Images]
Where might they have a weakness?
Plenty has changed in the last 12 months. Arguably, that is no bad thing for a team that has perennially underachieved, but how they fare under a new coach and new captain remains to be seen.
Vlaeminck's departure and the absence of Wong, targeted as her direct replacement, leaves Hurricanes without a genuine pace bowler, and Jensen is hardly like-for-like. Julia Cavanough, an 18-year-old seamer, was the final player added to their squad, and her skillset might see her rewarded with opportunities. Sasha Moloney has left for Melbourne Stars, Angela Genford has departed for Sydney Sixers.
Chances of reaching the latter stages?
Much rests on the shoulders of Villani or else this could turn into another campaign to forget in Tasmania.
Strongest XI: Lizelle Lee, Elyse Villani, Nicola Carey, Heather Graham, Mignon du Preez, Hayley Jensen, Ruth Johnston, Naomi Stalenberg, Emma Manix-Geeves, Molly Strano, Amy Smith
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