The Hobart Hurricanes remain without a Big Bash League title to their name despite having made it all the way to the final in the past, so they will be out to end their duck in BBL09, a campaign where actually they might be able to fly under the radar despite topping the regular season table last term. International call ups and absences of overseas stars just have the Hurricanes below some in the list of favourites this season, so it is up to them to show they have the quality to go all the way despite those obstacles in front of them.
Stats
Last Season: Semi-Finals
Captain: Matthew Wade
Overseas Players: David Miller & Qais Ahmad
Key Player: D’Arcy Short
Best Odds: 7/1 General
Predicted Finishing Position: 8th
Fixtures
Friday December 20 – Sydney Sixers (h)
Sunday December 22 – Melbourne Stars (a)
Tuesday December 24 – Melbourne Renegades (h)
Monday December 30 – Melbourne Stars (h)
Friday January 3 – Brisbane Heat (h)
Sunday January 5 – Perth Scorchers (a)
Thursday January 9 – Brisbane Heat (a)
Saturday January 11 – Sydney Thunder (a)
Monday January 13 – Perth Scorchers (h)
Thursday January 16 – Sydney Sixers (a)
Sunday January 19 – Adelaide Strikers (h)
Tuesday January 21 – Melbourne Renegades (a)
Friday January 24 – Sydney Thunder (h)
Sunday January 26 – Adelaide Strikers (a)
Squad
Matthew Wade (c/wk), Qais Ahmad, George Bailey, Scott Boland, Jake Doran, Nathan Ellis, James Faulkner, Jarrod Freeman, Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Simon Milenko, David Miller, David Moody, Tom Rogers, Clive Rose, D’Arcy Short, Aaron Summers
Preview
When everyone is available, with an international top five in their batting order and a couple of canny bowling options the Hobart Hurricanes should be set to go nicely this season but when you flip it around, they are going to be without Matthew Wade for most of the competition and their leading wicket taker from last season, Jofra Archer, is not back this year, so they have a little bit to prove.
A lot is going to rest on the shoulders of D’Arcy Short with the bat, although he should be nicely supported even when Wade is away, and James Faulkner with the ball. It is actually with the ball I worry a little for the Hurricanes. Qais Ahmad is a good signing but even with Riley Meredith likely to improve with a bigger role this season, the ‘Canes look very short with the ball. If they can overcome that there is no reason they can’t have a big season, but that is a huge weakness.
Betting
It is near enough impossible to oppose D’Arcy Short with the bat in the top Hobart season batsman market but at the same time I have little interest in tying up a wad of cash on an even money or slightly bigger shot, especially as he can’t be too far down the pecking order should injuries hit the Australian team ahead of their trip to India in the middle of January. Ben McDermott would probably be the man to take him on with but he might fall into the same category in terms of being on the Australian radar, especially if he begins the season strongly.
With the ball I quite like Riley Meredith but I’m already on him outright and I hate tying up money in two bets on the same person because any sort of injury of illness and both are kyboshed. He isn’t the absolute certainty that I would like him to be anyway so although 7/2 is a fair price reflective of his chances I’ll stick with my outright punt on him which means no bet for the Hobart Hurricanes.
Tips
No Bet
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