Photo Credit: Hobart Hurricanes
The Hobart Hurricanes are excited to announce their squad of 13 for their opening clash of the Rebel WBBL|06 against the Adelaide Strikers at Hurstville Oval.
Naomi Stalenberg
Rachel Priest
Hayley Matthews
Nicola Carey
Chloe Tryon
Corinne Hall (c)
Sasha Moloney
Emma Thompson
Amy Smith
Brooke Hepburn
Belinda Vakarewa
Chloe Rafferty
Erica Kershaw
Head Coach: Salliann Briggs
Assistant Coach: Dan Marsh
Strength and Conditioning Coach: Ross Brosnan
Physiotherapist: Emily Khalfan
Performance Analyst and Assistant Coach: Tim Kendrew
If selected in the final XI, Naomi Stalenberg, Rachel Priest, Amy Smith, Chloe Rafferty and Erica Kershaw will make their Hurricanes debut.
The game will commence at 10:30AM with the match being live streamed at cricket.com.au and on Kayo Sports.
The tournament will take place across a five-week period in a Sydney hub with a full 59-game season scheduled for all the teams.
In good news, there will be more matches broadcast on television than ever before, with Channel 7, Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports getting in on the action.
General Manager of the Hobart Hurricanes, Scott Barnes, spoke about the excitement that surrounded the tournament.
“All the girls are very happy to be involved in the new-look competition, we’ve got some fantastic talent in the squad with a lot of experience,” he said.
“We’ve also got a few younger players in the team that have shown a lot of potential early on with the likes of Amy Smith and Chloe Rafferty, we’re really excited to see what they’ve got instore for us.”
“Overall, we believe the squad is going to produce some outstanding performances and we’re looking forward to seeing what unfolds as the tournament progresses.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Nicola Carey:
Carey is an outstanding player with great versatility with both the bat and the ball. She’s one of the most consistent players in the squad and is proven to be one of the leaders of the group. Her ability to produce some big knocks will prove crucial throughout the season.
Chloe Tryon:
Tryon made her mark on WBBL|05 with her trademark big hits, boasting one of the highest strike-rates in the league. Her ability to step up at the crease in those do-or-die moments and produce some magnificent shots kept the Hurricanes above water in many games. It’ll be crucial where she bats in the order to see the impact she can have on the match.
Amy Smith:
Coming in as the youngest member of WBBL|06 the pressure will be on for the 15-year old leg-spinner. Smith has proven how valuable she can be after debuting in the WNCL last year, taking crucial wickets in all matches played. She’ll be one of the most exciting players to watch, with her skills not only with the ball, but also the bat.
Belinda Vakarewa:
Vakarewa had a break-out season with the Hurricanes in WBBL|05, taking a very impressive 20 wickets for the tournament. She’ll be looking to step up this season with fellow pace bowler Tayla Vlaeminck being ruled out of the tournament with an injury. As an opening bowler she sets the standard very high for the match, and hopefully this season she can produce some more of those magic moments.
Fixtures:
October 25: v Strikers, Hurstville Oval
October 26: v Scorchers, Hurstville Oval
October 31: v Heat, Showground Stadium
November 1: v Stars, Drummoyne Oval
November 3: v Renegades, Blacktown International Sports Park
November 7: v Sixers, North Sydney Oval
November 8: v Thunder, Hurstville Oval
November 10: v Renegades, Blacktown International Sports Park
November 14: v Sixers, Showground Stadium
November 15: v Heat, Drummoyne Oval
November 17: v Strikers, Hurstville Oval
November 18: v Stars, Hurstville Oval
November 21: v Scorchers, North Sydney Oval
November 22: v Thunder, Drummoyne Oval
