Gun recruits the key for Hobart Hurricanes’ WBBL05 campaign

After an off-season spent busily recruiting, the Hobart Hurricanes are putting the finishing touches to their pre-season before the campaign kicks off in earnest.

South Africa’s Chloe Tryon has been brought in to strengthen the Hurricanes’ top order. Picture: Getty

A NEW season will bring a new women’s Hurricanes, with Hobart ready to welcome its gun recruits.

The Hurricanes are in full preparation mode in anticipation for WBBL05, having played four practice games against the Auckland Hearts over the past three days and will play an ICC XI this Sunday and Monday.

Overseas players Heather Knight, Chloe Tryon and Fran Wilson will be welcome additions for the Hurricanes on Sunday along with Nicola Carey and Tayla Vlaeminck who are currently a part of the Australian team taking on Sri Lanka.

Fran Wilson will be a welcome addition for the Hurricanes when their season kicks off on October 19. Picture: Getty

The Hurricanes have been busy recruiting in the off-season and coach Salliann Briggs is confident in her squad.

“With recruitment we have made sure we have targeted players who have a really great skill set but also weren’t having the opportunities elsewhere,” Briggs said.

“If we can provide opportunity and a high-performance environment, I think that will create that big push for those girls to move from the mainland to Tassie.

“What we want is players that want to go play for Australia.

“If you have got players who have got the motivation to want to do that then they are going to bring something to the environment.”

Heather Knight in action for the Hurricanes last season. Picture: Getty

Coming off a bottom of the ladder performance last season with only two wins, Hobart has bolstered its bowling stocks by recruiting leg-spinner Maisy Gibson, pace bowlers Belinda Vakarewa and Vlaeminck, and international all-rounder Tryon.

“It [last season] was frustrating but also we picked up that we made some real improvements in key areas,” Briggs said.

“We missed out on eight games which were really close games, but getting into those positions are really positive for us.

“Moving forward we know from a batting point of view we need to make sure our top order are staying at the crease for much longer and building those partnerships, rather than relying on the bottom end to score those runs.

“We wanted to get a better balance within our bowling attack, so we got a spinner and a quick bowler.”

The Hurricanes start their Big Bash campaign against the Melbourne Stars at Junction Oval on October 19.