AN ELIMINATION final exit was how the Hobart Hurricanes ended things last year, and the club will be eager to go a bit further in the upcoming 2022/23 instalment of the Big Bash League.

The Hurricanes are the third team in our BBL|12 club preview series, and will be looking to make the most out of their talented roster after falling quite early into the finals series last year off a seventh placed finish.

With the state’s favourite cricketing son in Ricky Ponting returning to the club in an off-field role, the ‘Canes will be eager to sneak back into the top four.

Hobart Hurricanes

2021/22 record – seven wins, seven losses

Inconsistency was the big issue for the Hurricanes last year, unable to win more than three games on the trot. Their biggest winning streak came in the middle of the season, when Hobart claimed a trio of wins to jump back into finals contention. The side was able to defeat three of the top four sides, with the Scorchers the only hurdle for the season.

However, the Hurricanes lost the final match of the season to a Stars side that was not going to make the finals, and squandered any opportunity of a top four appearance. They eventually fell to the Strikers in the elimination final, with Adelaide getting some key players back on the eve of finals. It was another disappointing finish to the year from the Tasmania-based side, as the club continues its search for a maiden title at Big Bash level after 11 years in the competition.

The Hurricanes were dealt a huge blow in the offseason with the departure of Tom Rogers, who was the club’s leading wicket-taker last time around with 20 in BBL|11. The all-rounder played a key role for the Hurricanes in recent years, but the club recruited tall paceman Billy Stanlake to cover the bowling side of things.

At the inaugural BBL draft, Ponting emphasised the importance of availability from his selections, and the side in turned acquired the services of Shadab Khan from Pakistan with their first pick. Hobart had been missing some spin in their attack over the last few years, and Khan has proven himself on the big stage as one of the best to turn the ball. Asif Ali will add some power hitting to the club’s middle order, while Faheem Ashraf rounded out the club’s additions, with all three of the club’s selection coming from Pakistan, therefore increasing chemistry.

The Hurricanes spent the offseason filling holes in their roster, and it should see the side sneak up the standings in BBL|12.

BBL|12 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, Billy Stanlake, Matthew Wade