The Hobart Hurricanes, a dynamic team in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL), have etched their presence in the world of Twenty20 cricket. Based in the picturesque city of Hobart, Tasmania, the Hurricanes have become a symbol of resilience and excellence.
A Purple Storm in Hobart
The Hurricanes are instantly recognizable in their distinctive purple cricket uniform, which has become synonymous with their brand. They represent not only a cricket team but also the spirit of Tasmania.
Inaugural Season Triumph
The Hobart Hurricanes embarked on their BBL journey in the inaugural season of 2011/12. Under the guidance of their first coach, Allister de Winter, and the leadership of captain Tim Paine, they made an immediate impact. Their journey began with a resounding victory against the Perth Scorchers at the WACA Ground.
They posted a competitive total of 140 and managed to dismiss the Scorchers for 109, announcing their arrival in the league. Fast bowler Ben Hilfenhaus’s remarkable performance in this match even earned him a spot in the Australian national team for the annual Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The Hurricanes continued to impress in their second match, defeating the highly-favored Sydney Sixers by a convincing margin of 42 runs at Bellerive Oval in Hobart. These early successes set the tone for the Hurricanes’ participation in the league.
Seasons of Challenge and Triumph
In the following seasons, the Hurricanes faced various challenges and celebrated remarkable victories. During the 2012–13 BBL season, they played eight matches, securing four wins and enduring four losses. Their journey placed them in the middle of the standings, finishing in sixth place out of eight teams.
The 2013–14 BBL season witnessed the Hurricanes advancing to the semi-finals by a slim margin of just one point ahead of the Brisbane Heat. They clinched victory in the semi-final against the Stars but were eventually outperformed by the Perth Scorchers in the final, finishing as the runners-up, their best position at the time. Ben Dunk was named the Man of the Tournament for his remarkable 395 runs, while Jonathan Wells was recognized as the young gun of the tournament.
However, the following season in 2014–15 saw the Hurricanes winning only three out of their games, leading to a fifth-place finish on the table.
Year-by-year record
| Year | Finishing Position | Result |
|---|---|---|
| BBL01 | 2nd | Semi-final loss |
| BBL02 | 6th | Did not qualify |
| BBL03 | 4th | Runner-up |
| BBL04 | 5th | Did not qualify |
| BBL05 | 7th | Did not qualify |
| BBL06 | 7th | Did not qualify |
| BBL07 | 4th | Runner-up |
| BBL08 | 1st | Semi-final loss |
| BBL09 | 4th | Eliminator loss |
| BBL10 | 6th | Did not qualify |
| BBL11 | 5th | Eliminator loss |
A Global Invitation
In July 2018, the Hurricanes received an invitation to participate in the inaugural edition of the Abu Dhabi T20 Trophy. This recognition of their talent on the international stage further solidified their reputation as a formidable Twenty20 team.
By Opposition
| Opposition | Pld | W | L | T | T+W | T+L | NR | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide Strikers | 21 | 8 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| Brisbane Heat | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| Melbourne Renegades | 17 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| Melbourne Stars | 19 | 7 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| Perth Scorchers | 19 | 7 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| Sydney Sixers | 18 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | – |
| Sydney Thunder | 19 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
Highest Totals
| SCORE | OPPONENT | GROUND |
| 229/4 | ADELAIDE STRIKERS | ADELAIDE |
| 223/8 | MELBOURNE RENEGADES | DOCKLANDS |
| 217/1 | ADELAIDE STRIKERS | ADELAIDE |
| 213/2 | SYDNEY SIXERS | SYDNEY |
Lowest Totals
| SCORE | OPPONENT | GROUND |
| 91 | SYDNEY SIXERS | SYDNEY |
| 98 | PERTH SCORCHERS | HOBART |
| 102 | MELBOURNE RENEGADES | DOCKLANDS |
| 109 | SYDNEY THUNDER | LAUNCESTON |
Most Runs
| PLAYER | MATCH | RUNS |
| D’ARCY SHORT | 82 | 2706 |
| BEN MCDERMOTT | 82 | 2296 |
| MATTHEW WADE | 64 | 1931 |
| GEORGE BAILEY | 72 | 1559 |
Most Wickets
| PLAYER | MATCH | WICKETS |
| RILEY MEREDITH | 59 | 80 |
| NATHAN ELLIS | 51 | 61 |
| CAMERON BOYCE | 40 | 43 |
| JAMES FAULKNER | 25 | 25 |
Hobart Hurricanes Squad:
D Arcy Short, Ben McDermott, Matthew Wade (c & wk), Shadab Khan, Tim David, Asif Ali, James Neesham, Joel Paris, Nathan Ellis, Patrick Dooley, Riley Meredith, Caleb Jewell, Chris Tremain
