Hobart Hurricanes out to end home heartbreak and finals hoodoo

The Hurricanes will have to overcome a significant hoodoo to advance in the BBL.

Glenn Maxwell of the Stars and Matthew Wade of the Hurricanes shake hands after the Big Bash League semi final match between the Hobart Hurricanes and the Melbourne Stars at Blundstone Arena last year. Picture: SCOTT BARBOUR/GETTY IMAGES

THE Hobart Hurricanes have turned Blundstone Arena into a fortress — except when it comes to finals time.

Despite finishing on top of the ladder last year, second in BBL01 and previously twice making the grand final, the Hurricanes are yet to win a home final.

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Both times Hobart has made it through to the decider has been via upset semi final wins on the road, while finishing in the top two has seen the Hurricanes suffer defeats at home to exit the competition.

The mere fact the Hurricanes are hosting a final against the Thunder on Thursday night is a minor miracle as a plethora of results had to go their way as well as Hobart winnings its final three games just to be in finals contention.

Hurricanes coach Adam Griffith said his side felt the pressure of a home final last year after dominating the home and away season.

Matthew Wade and Jofra Archer leave the field after losing the Big Bash League semi final match at Blundstone Arena last year. Picture: SCOTT BARBOUR/GETTY IMAGES

“There was a lot of pressure on us last year finishing top and all of a sudden all the stats were coming out about finishing on top but don’t win it,” Griffith said.

“Lets hope that happens again this year as I would love to see the Stars go out in straight sets.”

This year he said the home final was a gift after the last-placed Renegades downed the Heat on Monday in the last roster game of BBL09 to give Hobart one last game at Blundstone Arena for the season.

“It is huge, we have been on the road so much lately,” Griffith said.

“That was the biggest thing yesterday the boys were talking about, the ability to train at home, sleep in your own bed, role in on game day like we normally do on a home game.

“We would have been on a flight tomorrow to Brisbane, train up there, play, so it has given us the best preparation, the boys will have the day off today and get stuck back in tomorrow.”

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The Hurricanes endured a five-game winless streak during the middle of the tournament that culminated in a 10-run loss to the Strikers in Launceston and left their season in tatters.

Griffith said post match was the turning point in Hobart’s season.

“When we left Launceston we had a good chat after the Strikers game about what we wanted to get out of the rest of the tournament and there was a bit of chat about let’s just try and win a couple of games and improve on some stuff for next season,” he said.

“When we got to Melbourne for the Renegades game we sat back as a staff and thought we could still make this especially after the Heat lost to the Renegades after us in Launnie.

“We thought let’s have a real crack here for the Renegades game and see what happens.”

It is no coincidence the Hurricanes hot streak has coincided with the return of Matthew Wade from Test duties, D’Arcy Shot from Australia’s one-day tour of India and bowling all-rounder James Faulkner’s from injury.