The Hurricanes are a team full of power hitting batsmen, and clever bowlers that can both bowl some heat, and exploit change of pace to confuse opposition batsmen.
Tim Paine will open the batting, keep wicket and captain the side for BBL|03. He is one of the top keepers in the country and will be looking to further push his credentials for an international call up. As a result, any match time Ben Dunk sees will be as a specialist batsman.
Internationals Owais Shah and Shoaib Malik play with the Hurricanes this season. Both are powerful batsmen, with averages of 34.61 and 39.63 respectively, who both bowl some useful part time off-spin. Both will be available for the entire season.
Dimtri Mascarenhas is also with the team, and on a domestic contract, so he will be able to play along with the 2 internationals. He may struggle to get a game over Evan Gulbis though, who has shown this season in the Ryobi Cup that he is an impressive limited overs bowler and dangerous lower order batsman.
George Bailey will not be available for many matches, as he is now playing all 3 formats of the game for Australia. Travis Birt will open the batting. After a massive BBL|01, which resulted in an international call up, Birt had a quiet season last year. He hasn't played in Tasmanian colours since last Big Bash and has become a T20 power hitter. Aiden Blizzard and Jon Wells are the other batsmen in the squad, and both are capable players who will see some game time.
There is an interesting assortment of bowlers at the Hurricanes this season. Ben Hilfenhaus and Doug Bollinger are both international quality bowlers, who could miss some game time with international duties in the test team if anyone else gets injured. Their pace and swing will complement the style of Ben Laughlin nicely. Laughlin was interesting to watch in the Ryobi Cup as his stock ball was a slow off cutter bowled at around 100 k/h. He bowled at times like an off-spinner, but also had a quicker delivery to throw in to mix it up.
Xavier Doherty will lead the spinners, but will miss games later in the season when he plays ODIs and T20Is for Australia.
Update 19/12: George Bailey has been cleared by CA to play in the first match of the BBL.
1. Tim Paine (wk) (C)
2. Travis Birt
3. Owais Shah
4. George Bailey
5. Aiden Blizzard
6. Shoaib Malik
7. Evan Gulbis/ Dimitri Mascarenhas
8. Ben Laughlin
9. Xavier Doherty
10. Ben Hilfenhaus
11. Doug Bollinger
Shah is a quality player that has played all forms of the game at an international level for England. He can hit the ball a mile, and also bowls some part time off-spin that skipper Tim Paine has turned to quite often in the past. Dirt cheap at this price for his ability.
PAINE, Tim - Wicket-keeper, $78,100
Definitely at the top end of the price scale as far as wicket-keepers go, with Jos Buttler the only player more expensive, but he is definitely worth the price tag. He will play every game, open the batting and is one of the top glovemen in the country. Always a safe option.
LAUGHLIN, Ben - Bowler, $95,400
Another expensive option, but certainly a safe one. His change of pace and ability to make his cutters spin is unrivalled in Australia and did earn him an international call-up last year. Will always bowl 4 overs for Tasmania and is also a very dangerous lower order hitter. He lead Tasmania to a thrilling last over victory in the Ryobi Cup this year where he smashed 34 off only 17 balls.
BOLLINGER, Doug - Bowler, $50,200
Dougie has come a long way since the player that was discarded from the international team last Ashes series. He is in the form of his life right now and has had success previously in the T20 format. Could be a good 3rd or 4th bowling option.
How do you think the Hurricanes will perform in BBL|03? Which players are you considering for your line up?
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