Hurricanes chasing English star to shore up batting line up

The Hurricanes batting line up could look very different this summer, so they are chasing an English star to add some serious strike power.

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THE Hurricanes have set their sights on the world’s No. 5 best T20 batsman, Englishman Dawid Malan.

Malan is currently torching the Australian side in England where he has posted scores of 66 from 43 balls in the first game to win the player of the match award and then 42 from 32 in game two.

The 33-year-old top-order left-handed batsman spoke of his discussions with a BBL club, which the Mercury understands is the Hurricanes.

“There has been some contact with one of the clubs,” Malan said on Monday.

“That’s still ongoing at the moment, so hopefully we can finish and finalise that soon and hopefully that can get announced.

“I don’t know if I’m allowed yet (to say which club), so I’ll sit on the fence with that one.”

Hobart is on the hunt for some batting fire power.

Dawid Malan of England plays a shot during the Vitality International Twenty20 match between England and Australia at The Ageas Bowl on September 6. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images for ECB)

The Hurricanes could be without top order guns Matthew Wade and D’Arcy Short to begin the tournament depending on how many Australian players are sent to quarantine hubs for international matches against India.

With George Bailey retiring and South African import David Miller not returning after an underwhelming season in purple, all of a sudden the Hurricanes batting – once its strength – could be vulnerable.

Malan could be joined at the Hurricanes by former Australian batsman Peter Handscomb, who could be an ideal replacement for Bailey in the middle order.

Player moves are starting to happen for a BBL season set to be played in “villages” with beanpole fast bowler Billy Stanlake moving to the Melbourne Stars from the Adelaide Strikers.

In a straight player swap, Stars quick Daniel Worrall moves to the Strikers in return for Stanlake.

With COVID-19 set to impact the BBL, teams are set to play out of moving “villages”, the term being used by BBL officials instead of hubs, across the season, which is likely to be delayed from its December 3 start.

The movement of players is set to pick up with the trade window open after officials abandoned plans for a player draft for international players.

Several big names, including foundation Stars batsman Peter Handscomb, are likely to move clubs. Hobart is believed to be his likely new home.

The Sydney Sixers are also believed to be chasing former Hurricanes all-rounder Dan Christian from the Renegades, which would be his fourth franchise.

Stanlake moves to the Stars on a three-year deal.

“The Melbourne Stars have been a very successful club for a long time in the BBL. While they haven’t lifted the trophy yet, they have been a serious contender almost every season, and I hope I can contribute to taking that final step,” Stanlake said.

“I’m looking forward to meeting up with the guys later in the year and getting stuck into what I’m sure will be a slightly different campaign to normal, but it’ll be great to get under way.”

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