Photo Credit: Hobart Hurricanes
The off-season wins keep coming for the Hurricanes, with the announcement that key pace bowler, Nathan Ellis, has re-signed for another three seasons.
In a deal signed before the League’s embargo period came into play – which will see Ellis remain in purple until at least 2026 – the Hurricanes will keep their dangerous three-pronged pace-bowling attack of Ellis, Riley Meredith and the yet-to-be-unleashed Billy Stanlake together for another season.
Ellis enjoyed a BBL|12 season at full fitness, which saw him not only finish the season as the Hurricanes third-leading wicket-taker, but also take on the role of co-vice-captain within the team for the first time.
Bowling both in the power play and at the death, Ellis confirmed his status as one of Australia’s best white-ball bowlers, finishing the season as the Hurricanes third-highest wicket-taker, with 18 wickets at an average of 25.33, as well as three Player of the Match awards to his name – the most of any Hurricanes player.
“It’s really exciting to have signed on for another three years,” Ellis said. “I’ve always said that I’m really thankful to the Hurricanes for giving me my start, and that I love playing down here so there really wasn’t much consideration about going anywhere else.”
“We were a bit unfortunate not to take our campaign any further this year,” Ellis continued, “but that’s the nature of Twenty20 cricket really – you’re never as bad as you think you are, and you’re never as good as you think you are.”
“As I think many teams have shown in this competition, consistency is key, so to already have so much of our core group locked in form next year is really exciting.”
Ellis will continue to ply his trade overseas in the off-season, after getting a call up to Australia’s ODI squad for the upcoming white ball series in India. He will then represent the Punjab Kings in the IPL, Hampshire in the Vitality Blast and the London Spirit in The Hundred, before returning to Tasmania in September in preparation for the commencement of the Australian summer of cricket.
Ellis joins Tim David, Paddy Dooley, Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Billy Stanlake and Matthew Wade as Hurricanes currently contracted for BBL|13.
