The big guns are back as Hurricanes grasp to slim finals chance

The Hurricanes are just holding on to their finals chances but have been buoyed by the return of a couple of big guns for their clash with the Thunder on Friday.

THE Hurricanes have received an unexpected double bonus with James Faulkner to return alongside star opener D’Arcy Short for the clash with the Thunder.

Faulkner was previously thought to almost certainly miss the rest of the Big Bash League campaign after suffering a calf strain three weeks ago.

But he has recovered faster than first thought and is now in for the must-win clash against the Thunder on Friday night, the Hurricanes’ last at Blundstone Arena.

The Hurricanes need to win Friday and on Australia Day to be any chance of seeing finals action.

Hobart coach Adam Griffith said he had been surprised by Faulkner’s availability, while Short returns from Australia’s one-day tour of India.

“We were holding out hope he might be coming back but it is one of those things that when it goes to plan you get him back but with soft tissues it can drag a little bit,” Griffith said.

“We are pleasantly surprised.”

James Faulkner of the Hurricanes fields during the Big Bash League (BBL) cricket match between Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Renegades at Blundstone Arena in Hobart. Picture: AAP IMAGE/ROB BLAKERS

Faulkner will come in for either seamer Tom Rogers or spinner Clive Rose depending on which way the selectors want to go, and will be vital against a Thunder top order containing Alex Hales, Usman Khawaja and Callum Ferguson.

“He’ll open the bowling that is what he’s good at,” Griffith said.

“We’ve got to try and take wickets upfront and it is something James does really well.

“We’ll have a look at the makeup of the group and who he comes in for but obviously it will be for one of the bowling group as we’ve got D’Arcy back as well and he gives us the opportunity of four overs of leg spin as well.”

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Short will slot straight into the opening spot, but the Hurricanes most likely alongside skipper Matthew Wade.

The two formed a dynamic duo last BBL, but Mac Wright made a man of the match 70 not out from 50 balls in their win over the Renegades on Tuesday night and would offer a left-right hand opening combination.

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“Potentially the conversation is around Wadey and Mac and to where those guys bat,” he said.

“Wadey batted pretty well the other day opening the batting and they have got a pretty good combination so we’ll have a good look at that over the next 24 hours.

“But either way Mac will be in the top three.”

The match, which is also fan favourite’s George Bailey in Tasmania, will start at 6.10pm.

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