Hobart Hurricanes could sign Tim Paine for BBL|12

The Hurricanes have one spot on their roster for BBL|12 left and a former Australian test captain could be the shock inclusion according to head coach Jeff Vaughan.

Hobart Hurricanes coach Jeff Vaughan has left the door ajar for former test captain Tim Paine to make his return to the Canes line-up for BBL|12.

With the signing of Billy Stanlake and Pakistani trio Shadab Khan, Asif Ali and Faheem Ashraf, the Hurricanes have one final list spot available for the upcoming tournament.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 31: Tim Paine of the Hobart Hurricanes poses during a media opportunity ahead of the Big Bash League semi finals at Optus Stadium on January 31, 2018 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

The spot is required to be filled by a domestic player and with Paine recently returning to training in a bid to make a domestic comeback for Tasmania, Vaughan wouldn’t rule out the possibility of seeing the 37-year-old don the purple this season.

“He (Paine) is two weeks back into his training schedule and he’s been really good in the nets,” Vaughan said.

“He’s good physically, good emotionally. Look, there’s a chance but he’ll be one of a number of players we will look at for that last position.

“Tim’s been keeping and telling us how good he is going and I think that we all have faith and trust in his keeping skill set so he’s very much training as he was 12 to 18 months ago.”

Hurricanes head coach Jeff Vaughan and head of strategy Ricky Ponting. Photograph Eddie Safarik

Paine hasn’t played first class cricket since he stepped down from the Test captaincy before last year’s home Ashes series after it was revealed he sent lewd messages to a female Cricket Tasmania employee.

Paine’s potential return to the Hurricanes lineup would be a welcome addition given fans haven’t had the opportunity to see the Lauderdale-local in purple since BBL|07 back in 2017-18.

The Hurricanes new head coach said that given the season was not due to kick off until December, they would potentially sit and wait to make a final call on the roster spot.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 10: Tim Paine of Australia walks out to bat during day five of the First Test match in the series between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval on December 10, 2018 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

“We’ve got meetings over the coming days but we are able to finalize that spot whenever. Whether we do it immediately or we might even hold and see what happens through the early stages of the domestic season, someone might pop out from shield cricket,” Vaughan said.

“There’s no obvious holes we need to fill because we are so satisfied with where the list is at so it’s good to have that capability to wait.”

Big Billy to join Hurricanes

THE HOBART Hurricanes have added to their already damaging fast bowling attack with the signing of big Billy Stanlake ahead of BBL|12.

The Hurricanes negotiated a deal with the Melbourne Stars to release Stanlake from the remaining year he had left to run on his contract.

The 204cm fast bowler has played 51 Big Bash matches at both the Stars and the Adelaide Strikers but missed the entirety of last season due to a stress fracture in his back.

Billy Stanlake signs with the Hobart Hurricanes. Credit: Hobart Hurricanes/Cricket Tasmania.

Having signed with the Tasmanian Tigers back in May for the upcoming Sheffield Shield season, Stanlake is hopeful that calling the state home on a more permeant basis would see him return to his best.

“It’s been a pretty frustrating 12 to 15 months for me with back to back stress fractures so to have that continuity 12 months around is going to be the best thing for me going forward,” Stanlake said.

Capable of bowling close to 150k/ph, Stanlake has a total of 47 BBL wickets to his name, at an average of 29.89 and economy of 8.07.

Stanlake has also donned the green and gold in the T20I format 19 times, taking a total of 27 wickets at an impressive average of 20.14, including best figures of 4-8, where he ripped apart Pakistan’s top-order in Zimbabwe.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 27: Billy Stanlake of the Strikers appeals to the umpire during the Big Bash League match between the Melbourne Stars and the Adelaide Strikers at Metricon Stadium on December 27, 2019 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images )

With the Hurricanes bowling attack already being home to the likes of Nathan Ellis and Riley Meredith, the 27-year-old was hopeful he could provide a point of difference to the line-up.

“The beauty of this squad is that they’ve got most areas covered so just trying to bring that point of difference with my height and bounce (is key),” Stanlake said.

“I think we (the bowling group) can feed each other really well, obviously we’ve all got different skill sets. I think that’s key when you’ve got a group of bowlers who bring a little bit of everything to the team.”

Stanlake’s signing comes on the back of Sunday’s inaugural BBL draft where the Canes selected a trio of Pakistani internationals – Shadab Khan, Asif Ali and Faheem Ashraf.

Pakistan's Shadab Khan plays a shot during the Asia Cup Twenty20 international cricket Group A match between India and Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on August 28, 2022. (Photo by Surjeet Yadav / AFP)

The four join Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Joel Paris, Wil Parker, D’Arcy Short and Matthew Wade as Hurricanes currently signed for BBL|12.

The club has one spot remaining on its list for a domestic player with coach Jeff Vaughan not ruling out former Australian test captain Tim Paine as a potential signing.

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