BIG BASH 2018/19 PREVIEW: Can the Hobart Hurricanes go one further and win it?

Ahead of the Big Bash 2018/19 season, The Cricketer previews the Hobart Hurricanes, and looks at their chances of bouncing back from being runners-up in 2017/18...

Information:

Captain: Matthew Wade
Coach: Adam Griffith
Overseas player: Jofra Archer, Tymal Mills
Titles: 0
17/18 Performance: Finished 4th then runners-up
Best-ever performance: 17/18 4th and then runners-up
In: Jake Doran, James Faulkner (Stars), Caleb Jewell
Out: Cameron Boyce (Renegades), Dan Christian (Renegades), Sam Rainbird (Thunder), Hamish Kingston (unsigned), Nathan Reardon (unsigned), Jake Reed (unsigned)

Form:

The Hurricanes are coming off the back of their best ever Big Bash season, spurred on in part by the talented Jofra Archer (who could sooner than initially thought be playing for England) who finished as their leading wicket-taker. There were also a lot of runs from D’Arcy Short who finished as the leading run-scorer in the entire tournament by over 100 runs, and they were only undone in the final by an Adelaide Strikers batting order that was simply not going to lose that day.

Star Player:

James Faulkner

T20 Player Index Stats
Position: 59
Points: 536 

Some would have thought it was last year's Player of the Tournament D'Arcy Short, or maybe even Jofra Archer, but no, it's James Faulkner. The self-proclaimed GOAT, is not quite the greatest T20 player of all time according to the T20 Player Index, and has dropped down the standings slightly having been at No.31 this time last year. He has, however, still been the been the most impactful player in the Hobart Hurricanes squad over the past three years, and that includes last year with the Melbourne Stars (who were awful).

A change of scenery could see the bowling allrounder pair a good knack for taking wickets with keeping it a little bit tighter. Though his contributions with the bat are not as large as they are with the ball, he has a talent for rotating the strike, with a comparatively low 8.5 per cent of his runs coming through boundaries.

^{James Faulkner could make a big impact for the Hurricanes this year}

Biggest Loss:

Dan Christian

The experienced allrounder was a big contributor to the Hurricanes journey to the final in 2017/18, as he scored plenty of good runs, and consistently took wickets. He was their second-highest wicket-taker and outscored former captain George Bailey with the bat. His departure leaves a gap in both their batting and their bowling, which the Hurricanes will be hoping that James Faulkner will be able to plug.

^{Dan Christian was a big contributor with both bat and ball in 2017/18}

Something to prove:

Thomas Rogers

Having been given his first professional contract at the relatively late age of 23, Rogers burst onto the scene playing for Tasmania in the 2017/18 Sheffield Shield, finishing as their joint-leading wicket-taker, having amassed 37 wickets at an average of 18.37.

This form saw him included as part of the Hobart Hurricanes squad, and he made four Big Bash appearances in the 2017/18 season, including a brilliant 3-31 in the semi-final against the Perth Scorchers. He also finished as the Hurricanes most economic bowler in the final against the Adelaide Strikers. If he can build on a promising first season, he could be a big player for Hobart this year.

^{Thomas Rogers will be looking to carry on his form from last year}

Strengths:

Having two of the most individually talented players taking part in the competition was naturally quite helpful during the 2017/18 season. Short scored a stupid number of runs, while Archer took a healthy load of wickets. Both of them will be playing for the Hurricanes this season again, and both are probably better than they were this time last season. If they can continue in the same vein, then the Hurricanes may well make the final again, and could potentially win the tournament outright.

Weaknesses:

Having two players who you rely on heavily has the danger that if they don’t perform, the team struggles badly. That was the case in the Big Bash final in 2017/18 for the Hobart Hurricanes. Jofra Archer took 46-1, and went at a rate of 11.50 (the highest in the match of anyone who bowled more than one over). The back of the Hurricanes attack was essentially broken because the Strikers made Hobart's best bowler their worst. If they are to go one better, players like Tymal Mills will have to contribute more than they did in those big matches.

Squad:

Jofra Archer, George Bailey, Johan Botha, Jake Doran, James Faulkner, Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Simon Milenko, Tymal Mills, David Moody, Tim Paine, Tom Rogers, Clive Rose, D'Arcy Short, Aaron Summers, Matthew Wade.

BIG BASH SQUADS

Prediction:

Playoffs

Fixtures:

Dec 22: Brisbane Heat (A)
Dec 24: Melbourne Stars (H)
Dec 28: Sydney Thunder (H)
Dec 30: Perth Scorchers (H)
Jan 04: Sydney Sixers (H)
Jan 07: Melbourne Renegades (A)
Jan 14: Melbourne Stars (A)
Jan 18: Perth Scorchers (A)
Jan 21: Adelaide Strikers (A)
Jan 23: Sydney Sixers (A)
Jan 29: Brisbane Heat (H)
Jan 31: Adelaide Strikers (H)
Feb 07: Melbourne Renegades (H)
Feb 09: Sydney Thunder (A)

BIG BASH SCHEDULE