Hobart Hurricanes make their mark in WBBL’s Team of the Decade with Villani and Carey leading the way

Hobart Hurricanes flood the WBBL’s Team of the Decade nominations. See who made the cut.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 28: Elyse Villani and Lizelle Lee of the Hurricanes celebrate the win during the WBBL match between Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Thunder at Blundstone Arena on October 28, 2024, in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

The Hurricanes have dominated the WBBL’s Team of the Decade shortlist with more than a quarter of nominees either current or former Hobart players.

The list includes a who’s who of Hurricanes’ elite, led by captain courageous Elyse Villani and superstar all-rounder Nicola Carey.

The nominations were a welcome relief after the Hurricanes misfired with the bat against the Sydney Sixers in their WBBL contest in Hobart on Wednesday night, losing the game by six runs.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 06: Nicola Carey and Elyse Villani of the Hurricanes in action during the WBBL match between Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Sixers at Blundstone Arena on November 06, 2024, in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

It was Canes’ third loss from their past four outings.

They must now regroup ahead of a crucial date with third-placed Perth Scorchers at the SCG on Sunday.

After finishing sixth last season, the Hurricanes are fifth on the ladder after losses to Sydney Thunder, Melbourne Stars and the Sixers, as well as a win over Brisbane, last four times out.

Villani scored 26 off 17 deliveries as the side’s second-best batter against the Sixers and Carey snared 2-27 off her three overs.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 06: Elyse Villani of the Hurricanes hits a boundary during the WBBL match between Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Sixers at Blundstone Arena on November 06, 2024, in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Opening bat Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who also made the Team of the Decade shortlist for her performances for Brisbane Heat, Melbourne Renegades and Hurricanes, top-scored for the home team with 30 runs off 26 deliveries, including five boundaries.

Her opening partner Lizelle Lee (4 runs off 2 balls) failed to fire, but she made the TOD shortlist for her WBBL performances for the Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades and Melbourne Stars.

Of the current Hurricanes squad, Heather Graham (Hobart Hurricanes, Perth Scorchers), who has an international T20 hat-trick to her credit, and specialist T20 spinner Molly Strano (Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades) both made the shortlist.

Previous Hobart players on the list include former Hurricanes captain and Thunder all-rounder Heather Knight, all-rounder Nicola Hancock (Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars), West Indian star Hayley Matthews, who made her Big Bash debut with the Hurricanes, Kiwi keeper Rachel Priest (Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades, Sydney Thunder), Gold Coast doctor Georgia Redmayne (Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, Perth Scorchers), former New Zealand captain Amy Satterthwaite (Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades) and former South African captain Mignon du Preez (Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Stars).