BBL: One-time Melbourne Stars captain Peter Handscomb is moving to the Hobart Hurricanes

Another BBL domino has fallen with one-time Melbourne Stars captain Peter Handscomb moving to the Hobart Hurricanes.

Peter Handscomb is moving from the Stars to the Hurricanes for this BBL season. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Another BBL domino has fallen with one-time Melbourne Stars captain Peter Handscomb moving to the Hobart Hurricanes.

The 29 year-old, a foundation player of the Stars, wasn’t offered a new contract in Melbourne and moves south as a middle-order replacement for new national selector George Bailey.

“I had a good chat with some of the boys I’d played with before, so I’m keen to get down there and play with those guys,” Handscomb said.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to potentially bat in the top four on a beautiful wicket at a nice ground, it’s exciting to be able to come to Hobart and show what I can do.”

Handscomb, who has played both Tests and one-day internationals for Australia, played 51 matches in green since the BBL’s inception.

It is the fourth highest number of appearances for the Stars after Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and former England international Luke Wright.

Handscomb also sits sixth all-time in runs scored for the club including a century and four 50s.

Handscomb is now a Hurricane. 🔥

SEE HERE: https://t.co/yPWAuVPSeY#TasmaniasTeam #BBL10 pic.twitter.com/ItCjR5oKSy

— Hobart Hurricanes BBL (@HurricanesBBL) September 9, 2020

Hobart general manager Scott Barnes said that the strength of the first new signing for the upcoming season was a sign of things to come.

“We’re thrilled to have Pete join the Hurricanes for this season of Big Bash”, Barnes said.

“There will be a number of first-time Hurricanes this season and we’re confident that the mix of youth and experience will see us through to the finals for another season.

“His experience and tenacity at the crease is well known, and for him to be in purple this season provides another level of confidence to our batting line-up and overall team leadership.”

Clubs are expecting a delayed start to the season, which will be played as a moving showcase because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s unlikely any matches will be played in Melbourne before Christmas.

A full domestic schedule, with South Australia expected to be a hub for the early part of the Sheffield Shield season, is expected to be finalised soon.