BBL 2020 Team Preview: Will it be the third time lucky for Dawid Malan-strong Hurricanes!
Hobart Hurricanes along with Melbourne Stars are the only two teams in an eight-team strong Big Bash League tournament that haven’t won a single final yet, even after being consistent throughout all campaigns in the last three years. It has always ended up getting too difficult for Hurricanes in terms of chases in the finals, be it the 2013-14 season or the 2017-18 season.
The foreign signings
This time around though, the planning is different as they have signed up World Number one T20I batsman in Dawid Malan, and he has been a master when it comes to chasing.
In the 11 innings that he has played while batting second, the 33-year-old has remained not out in two of them and has scored more runs (451) in the second innings than the first. His average in the second innings is also above fifty with five half-centuries coming while chasing as compared to four while batting first.
Over the years he has proved in various leagues across the world that he is worth the chance. In 213 T20 games, Malan has 5852 runs at a healthy average of 33 and a brilliant strike rate of 130, which has kept on growing as his recent international form suggests.
And Malan is not the only one that Hobart will be banking on. They have recruited the Nepalese talisman spinner Sandeep Lmichchane, who is a great asset, considering his exploits in the BBL so far. In 20 innings, the leggie has 26 scalps with an economy of under 8.
Sandeep, 20, has a knack for picking wickets as is evident through his superb record of 117 wickets in 88 T20 games in leagues across the world. He alongside the young teenager from Victoria, Will Parker signed up this year by the Hurricanes, combined with the occasional wrist spin of D’Arcy short and off-spin of Tim David could be the combination that Hobart had been looking for for years to provide semblance to their bowling unit.
Even coach Adam Griffith believes in his abilities. “We have seen how Sandeep can change a game with his mystery spin, and he can bowl at any stage of the innings. He’s a proven wicket-taker who will add yet another dimension to our bowling group,” Griffith said on signing the Nepal star.
Keemo Paul is as strong addition as there could be, although he would not be available for the initial games. The West Indian is a proven talent and alongside the express pace of Scott Boland and Nathan Ellis, he could turn out to be the wicket-taker, as suggested through his record in the T20s ( 60 wickets in 62 games, for a bowler coming first change)
Paul is no muck with the bat either, he is rather a capable lower batter and the Aussie conditions would suit both his batting and bowling as it’s ‘hit the deck’ hard that he is good at.
Hobart Hurricanes BBL|10 Squad
Scott Boland, Tim David, Jake Doran, Nathan Ellis, James Faulkner, Peter Handscomb, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, David Moody, Mitchell Owen, Tim Paine, Will Parker, D'Arcy Short, Matthew Wade, Nick Winter, Mac Wright.
Overseas players: Dawid Malan, Sandeep Lamichhane, Keemo Paul.
Overseas replacement players: Will Jacks, Colin Ingram
Support Staff:
Head Coach- Adam Griffith
Senior Assistant Coach- Jeff Vaughan
Assistants- Ben Rohrer, Allister de Winter, Wade Townsend, Xavier Doherty, Matt Clark, Daniel Salpietro
Left will turn it right for Hurricanes
The Hobart team has got a host of left-handed superstars in the form of Dawid Malan, last season hero, and skipper Matthew Wade, Malan’s replacement Colin Ingram and the destructive opener from Western Australia D’Arcy Short as well. Even in the bowling department, they have experienced left-handers in James Faulkner and Nick Winter. It is these players who would be banked on and who would have to turn it right for the team.
Wade (351 runs) and Short (357 runs) are proven BBL talents while there is no questioning of Malan. Even Ingram has had a terrific outing for Adelaide strikers in past seasons. In fact, In 25 games for the Strikers, the powerful left-hander plundered 610 runs at an average of 30.5 and strike rate of 138.95.
Underlining Ingram’s importance, Griffith said, “Although he won’t be with us for the whole tournament, he will provide stability and explosive power to our batting order before Dawid joins the group.”
Hobart success story will need all-rounders as heroes
Any t20 team would find it hard to be successful for a long time without having quality all-rounders. Hobart, this time around have actually got a ‘pool’ of quality all-rounders, led by Vitality Blast MVP England’s Will Jacks, who have only recently developed a knack of picking wickets with his orthodox off-spin.
Jacks, playing for Surrey, which was the runners up in the competition, scored 306 runs in 13 games alongside picking 13 wickets.
Then there is the old fox James Faulkner who has 25 wickets in 20 games for the Hurricanes, and although hasn’t got much opportunity to prove himself with the bat, his recent hundred and fifty for Tasmania University are signs that he is itching to let loose with the willow.
Added to this list the Hurricanes have the West Indian Keemo Paul and Australia-born Singapore international Tim David as two all-rounders as well.
“Keemo uses different types of slower balls and loves bowling at the death. He's also a hard-hitting batsman that can clear the fence, adding more power to our lower-middle order to finish off an innings," Griffith had said on the Guyanese signing with the Hurricanes.
Along with these Short and Jake Doran’s (if he plays) bowling skills could be utilized as well.
Not available full time! Hurricanes' biggest worry
The biggest problem that the Hurricanes might face is the non-availability of key platters at crucial times. Tim Panie and Wade, two of the most experienced players for Hurricanes would not be available until the 9th round for the team. Similarly, Malan and Lamichchane, the most important pillars in the Hurricane hopes would also not be available before the 4th round, neither would be Keemo Paul, posing a great threat to ‘great start’ as the fans might be expecting.
Talent will win you games, camaraderie the tournament
Hurricanes have all the right recipes for a perfect blend and just so that they don’t get too dependent on those stars, a natural dose of struggle (initial absence of star players) has been injected as well. Most of the players in the Hurricanes squad are here to get their hands on a trophy, most having been witness to the saying ‘close yet so far’ would be raring to win it this time.
This is where the character, team spirit, and camaraderie play an important role, and Griffith the coach, Piane and Wade the senior pros know it. If the team gels together, which looks like a will, they are right at the top of the contenders’ list.