BBL: Hobart Hurricanes Season Preview

Can the 'Cane Train contend in BBL08?

New captain Matthew Wade & D'Arcy Short Photo: Getty Images

Hobart Hurricanes Season Preview

Finished last year: Runners-up (4th during home and away)

Prediction: 5th

Title odds: $7 (multiple bookies)

Squad: Matthew Wade (capt), George Bailey, Ben McDermott, Simon Milenko, Tymal Mills, Tom Rogers, Clive Rose, D’Arcy Short, Aaron Summers, Jofra Archer, James Faulkner, Johan Botha, Jake Doran, Caleb Jewell, Riley Merideth, David Moody, Tim Paine, Clive Rose

The ‘Canes have plenty of firepower at the top of the order and they will be heavily reliant on them to hit a winning score. D’Arcy Short was the POTT last summer and Ben McDermott is entrenched in the national T20 side, along with Matthew Wade and George Bailey who are proven performers at this level, their top four is as strong as any in the league.

Their middle-order is bit light on (considering Tim Paine is not likely to feature) and they will be looking for the all-rounders in Faulkner and Milenko to play a big role with the bat. They also lack a little bit with the ball outside of Jofra Archer and that’s where they might be exposed.

They've announced Matthew Wade as their skipper this season and we think he is due for a huge tournament. By his own admission he hasn't set the BBL alight in previous seasons, but been on fire in the Sheffield Shield and leadership has proven to bring the best out of him. 

Despite their impressive season in BBL07, we think the Hurricanes might slip back to the pack this season and find themselves just outside the top four.

Best XI: McDermott, Short, Wade, Bailey, Paine (WK), Milenko, Faulkner, Archer, Botha, Mills, Summers