Hobart hoping to avoid deja vu after star bowler again struck down with soft tissue complaint

Watching James Faulkner leave the Gabba in Sunday night’s loss to the Brisbane Heat left the Hobart Hurricanes fearing it was groundhog day as they await the outcome of his latest setback

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THE Hurricanes will be sweating on the severity of James Faulkner’s latest soft tissue concern, desperately hoping to avoid a case of Big Bash deja vu.

Faulkner bowled just 10 balls in Sunday night’s four wicket loss to the Brisbane Heat at the Gabba before leaving the field with hamstring tightness.

He was assessed on Monday morning ahead of the rematch between the two sides on Wednesday at the same venue, with a prognosis yet to be made public.

James Faulkner of the Hurricanes plays a shot during the Big Bash League match between the Brisbane Heat and the Hobart Hurricanes at The Gabba, on December 27, 2020, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

It represented groundhog day for Hobart’s key weapon, who broke down at the exact same stage of last year’s tournament against the same opposition with a calf strain which saw him miss three weeks of action.

The star all-rounder — who no longer holds a state contract after battling degenerative knee problems which has all but ended his red ball career — suffered soft tissue issues this pre-season which delayed his start of the CTPL season for University.

But he entered BBL|10 with a head of steam, snaring at least one wicket in his first two overs of the first four matches in Tasmania before struggling with his radar against the Heat.

“I haven’t seen him this morning, from what I gather last night it wasn’t too bad,” teammate Nathan Ellis told the Mercury.

“I think he is getting scans today or getting assessed, but he was pretty positive it was more a precaution sort of thing.

“Obviously it’s a long tournament and we want Jimmy at the back end, fingers crossed for him.”

Hobart failed to fire with the bat against the previously winless hosts, posting a subpar 7-148 where D’Arcy Short (27) top scored and seven of the nine batsmen reached double figures but failed to kick on.

Sam Heazlett (48 from 27 balls) and Max Bryant (31 off 19) fired the Heat to a 76 run opening start inside six overs, but when Bryant pulled Ellis to BBL debutant Dawid Malan at backward square it triggered a collapse of 6-29.

Dawid Malan pulls a short ball during his Big Bash League debut for the Hobart Hurricanes against the Brisbane Heat at The Gabba, on December 27, 2020, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

While unable to land the knockout punch as Jimmy Peirson (16 not out) and James Bazley (31 not out off 19) guided Brisbane home, Ellis said the Hurricanes will take enough positives from the bowling fightback.

“The good thing about this little period up here is we have the Heat two times in four days at the same venue, so there is a good chance to bounce back.

“It was not our best batting performance, we have prided ourselves on having one or two partnerships that get us up to a competitive total so far this tournament.

“But positive signs being able to stay in the game with the ball defending a pretty smallish total relative to the usual totals at the Gabba.

“Last night after winding down we all felt excited to right the wrongs in a way and get a win before we come back to Tassie.”

Nathan Ellis is confident the Hurricanes can quickly rebound when they face the Heat at the Gabba again on Wednesday night. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

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