Ben McDermott stands down as Hobart stand-in skipper as he eyes a return to top of batting order

Sliding down the order to replicate his position in the national T20 set up didn't “work out too well” for Ben McDermott, who has handed over official leadership duties for this year’s Big Bash

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THE Hurricanes’ first BBL century maker has relinquished stand-in captaincy duties and is set to move back up the order to recapture his explosive best.

Ben McDermott, who filled in as skipper and wicketkeeper for Matthew Wade while he was on Test duties, spent the majority of last year’s Big Bash in a “finishing” role at No. 5.

It was a move designed to match his position in the Australian T20 side after he earned an international debut in 2018.

However the pressures of leading and keeping resulted in a subpar tournament for the destructive right hander, who managed just one half century and finished with 265 runs at 26.5.

Ben McDermott bats during the Big Bash League match between the Hobart Hurricanes and the Brisbane Heat at Blundstone Arena on January 03, 2020 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

It was a far cry from when he burst onto the scene in 2016-17 in scoring an incredible 114 off 52 balls to lead the Hurricanes to a record run chase of 223 against the Melbourne Renegades, setting him on the path to become of the competition’s most dynamic strikers.

Having stood down from official leadership duties — the Hurricanes will announce his replacement in the next 24 hours — McDermott also is eyeing a return to the No. 3 batting position when the side opens this year’s tournament Thursday night.

“With my keeping and batting role, I thought that hindered it a little bit last year and I didn’t play my best cricket with that [captaincy] title,” McDermott said.

“I’m hoping to be back up the order again, I think that’s where I’ve played my best cricket for the Hurricanes, at three, I’ve scored hundreds there, hopefully I can do that again.

“Last year I moved down to try and fill that role for Australia and play that role when ‘Maxy’ [Glenn Maxwell] was not playing.

“That didn’t work out too well, I didn’t have a great year so hoping I can get back up the top of the order and play my best cricket there.”

Ben McDermott attempts a stumping during the BBL09 elimination final between the Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Thunder from Blundstone Arena. Picture: Zak Simmonds

McDermott slotted seamlessly into first drop in Hobart’s practice match against the Sydney Sixers on Tuesday, clubbing 96 from just 49 balls at the Twin Ovals.

Two of the squad’s newest additions loom as his replacement to take the reins until Wade returns from the Test series against India.

Colin Ingram has captained Adelaide Strikers in previous years in Travis Head’s absence but with the South African only playing the first half of the tournament, former Melbourne Star Peter Handscomb would appear front runner.

“I’m always happy to do it, but it’s never something I’ve really gone out and tried to get,” Handscomb said.

“We’ll find out tonight which direction we’re going in and if that opportunity arises I’ll gladly do it, I know the boys are pretty good and they’ll look after themselves.”

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