Naomi Stalenberg signs with Hurricanes; former NSW all-rounder enjoying change of pace
New Hurricane Naomi Stalenberg credits Tasmania’s laid-back lifestyle as a helping her remove the stress from her cricket as she looks to help lead Hobart back into WBBL finals contention.
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A CHANGE in lifestyle has a more relaxed Naomi Stalenberg confident she can recapture her best form as she prepares for her first WBBL campaign in purple.
Stalenberg, who joined the Tigers after seven years with NSW, has also signed for the Hobart Hurricanes for this year’s women’s Big Bash.
The 26-year-old batting all-rounder said escaping the “hustle and bustle” of Sydney has already reaped benefits for her game, and she is hoping to have a big impact for the Canes when they launch into this year’s tournament in her home town later this month.
“Living in Sydney my whole life and in particular travelling to the SCG was a big toll,” Stalenberg said.
“It’s been quite nice down here, I’ve really enjoyed the change of lifestyle compared to Sydney, no more hustle and bustle and 10 minutes down the road for training, it takes a load off.
“I am really enjoying getting around the girls and working with ‘Sal’ [coach Salliann Briggs] and Dan Marsh.
“It has been a nice change for me, much more relaxed in myself. Being a lot less stressed is really helping me.
“More time for myself and more time to feel relaxed within the cricket environment, I have definitely benefited from that.”
The Hurricanes have finalised their squad, with New Zealand international Hayley Jensen signing as a fourth overseas player.
The Kiwi all-rounder has previously played for both Melbourne franchises and the Perth Scorchers, and has been added as cover for Australian quick and marquee player Tayla Vlaeminck, who will be sidelined for the entire tournament alongside Maisy Gibson.
Victorian duo Erica Kershaw and Chloe Rafferty will also join the playing group in Sydney, with teenage leg spinner Amy Smith and Emma Thompson both earning contracts.
Coach Salliann Briggs said the decision to not offer a deal to England skipper Heather Knight, who has joined the Sydney Thunder, was a tough one but made on team balance.
“We had to think long and hard about Heather and her role, they key thing for the Hurricanes over the last two years is that batting powerplay,” Briggs said.
“We knew Hayley Matthews was coming back and obviously Chloe Tryon had such an amazing year last year we had to re-sign her.
“It was always that last overseas spot.
“We decided we would rather invest that spot as an opening partnership [Rachel Priest], because we have not got that bit right in the last two years.
“It was obviously a hard decision with Heather, she has been incredible loyal, been a reasonably good performer over the last four years but we decided to do what was best for the team.
“She is still a world class player, it was just the role we needed is slightly different than what she can offer.”
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