Photo Credit: Hobart Hurricanes
Tasmanian pace bowler, Riley Meredith, will remain in purple until at least 2025, with the 25-year-old inking a three-year deal with the Hobart Hurricanes before the start of the BBL contract embargo period last month.
It’s another post-season boost for the Hurricanes, with the home-grown hero – who has thus far played the entirety of his Big Bash League career with the Hurricanes – set to remain a part of the team’s line up until at least the end of BBL|14.
Despite missing the first three games of the tournament due to injury, Meredith went on to be prolific with the ball for the Hurricanes. Playing just 11 games he finished as the side’s second-highest wicket-taker for BBL|11, finishing with a total of 16 to his name at an average of 17.87, and an economy rate of 7.94.
After beginning the season as a ‘super sub’ as a part of his return from injury – bowling the first over of the match to finish with figures of 1-1 against eventual Champions the Perth Scorchers, before being subbed out of the match with the League’s ‘X Factor’ rule – he went on to record best figures of 3-29 against the Sydney Thunder during the tournament.
Meredith also remains a valued player on the international T20 circuit, most recently being picked up by the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League’s mega auction, where he will join his Hurricanes teammate, Tim David, for the 2022 season.
“It’s great to have some certainty about where I’m going to be playing my cricket over the next few years,” Meredith said.
“These past 12 months or so has been a little frustrating for me with the various niggles I’ve had, but the staff in Tassie have been great in supporting me to get back playing my best cricket as soon as possible.
“It’s great to see so many of the guys who have been with us for several years now also signing on, and I’m confident that together, when we play our best cricket we will be hard to beat.”
Cricket Tasmania’s General Manager of High Performance, Simon Insley, said securing Meredith’s signature was another key piece of the puzzle.
“There aren’t many in world cricket that can do what Riley can, bowl 150kmh+. Understandably, a number of clubs were keen on securing Riley’s services, so its very pleasing that the Tasmanian will stay in purple until at least 2025,” Insley said.
Meredith joins Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Ben McDermott, Joel Paris, D’Arcy Short and Matthew Wade as Hurricanes currently signed for BBL|12.
