WBBL|03- Hurricanes Preview
Perennial overachievers, the Hobart Hurricanes have shown great heart in the two opening instalments of the WBBL. One would think that ends right here. It is hard to comprehend how any side, of either gender, at this level, could deal with the loss of four such talented cricketers and leaders in Heather Knight, Amy Satterthwaite, Julie Hunter and Erin Burns. The most important part of these four was that they dragged the bit-part players with them. Lauren Winfield and Indian dynamo Veda Krishnamurthy are good players, but I don’t see them making the impact of the international players they are replacing. Winfield is better at ODI cricket, and will be jaded after a long few months of touring; while Krishnamurthy is an unknown quantity in this competition.
They are a side full of heart, but, regrettably, I see a bit of pain to come this season.
Ins: Veda Krishnamurthy, Lauren Winfield, Stefanie Daffara (Thunder), Nicola Hancock (Renegades WBBL|01)
Outs: Erin Burns (Sixers), Julie Hunter (retired), Amy Satterthwaite (Renegades), Heather Knight (injured
Full Squad
Batters: Corinne Hall, Emma Thompson, Sasha Maloney, Veda Krishnamurthy, Lauren Winfield, Stefanie Daffara
Wicketkeepers: Georgia Redmayne
Allrounders: Nicola Hancock, Veronica Pyke, Hayley Matthews, Meg Phillips
Bowlers: Erin Fazackerley, Brooke Hepburn, Katelyn Fryett, Celeste Raack
WBBL|02 Snapshot
Average Runs Scored Per Game: 126.76 (League average= 120.84)
Average RPO: 6.7 (League average= 6.43)
WBBL|02 Top 3 Runscorers
Heather Knight (now gone): 14 matches, 14 innings, 334 runs @ 46.14. HS- 57
Amy Satterthwaite (now gone): 13 matches, 13 innings, 323 runs @ 25.69. HS- 69
Georgia Redmayne: 14 matches, 14 innings, 278 runs @ 23.16. HS- 64*.
WBBL|02 Top 3 Strike-rate (minimum 50 runs)
Heather Knight (now gone): 14 innings, 334 runs/282 balls, SR 118.43. 4s: 38, 6s: 4.
Amy Satterthwaite (now gone): 13 innings, 323 runs/292 balls, SR 110.61. 4s: 31, 6s: 2.
Veronica Pyke: 8 innings, 79 runs/73 balls, SR 108.21. 4s: 7, 6s: 1.
Average Runs Conceded: 127 (League average= 120.84)
Average Economy Rate: 6.7 (League average= 6.43)
WBBL|02 Top 3 Wicket-takers
Hayley Matthews: 14 matches, 47 overs, 20 wickets @ 15.95. BB 5/19.
Amy Satterthwaite (now gone): 13 matches, 45 overs, 15 wickets @ 20.72. BB 5/17.
Julie Hunter (now gone): 10 matches, 37 overs, 13 wickets @ 16. BB 3/19.
WBBL|02 Top 3 Economy Rates (minimum 20 overs)
Julie Hunter: 10 matches, 13 wickets, 37 overs for 208 runs, ER 5.62.
Brooke Hepburn: 14 matches, 11 wickets, 45.3 overs for 276 runs, ER 6.06.
Hayley Matthews: 14 matches, 20 wickets, 47 overs for 319 runs, ER 6.78.
Batting Preview
It looks decidedly short of class, depth and strike power and it is hard to see how that is redeemed in the form of Indian import, Veda Krishnamurthy, who is unproven in these conditions. Knight and Satterthwaite are enormous losses for a side that needs its stars more than any other. They provided enormous leadership for a line-up lacking local batters and NSW rejects don’t general help for the T20 format. Hayley Knight has a big load on her shoulders and if the Hurricanes are any chance, Krishnamurthy needs to click into gear straight away. Georgia Redmayne is a solid contributor, but her style of play suits 50 over cricket much more, and will place a lot of pressure on Winfield to make quick runs. If there are a couple of quick wickets, I don’t see a middle order who is capable of a rescue mission.
Bowling Preview
Safe to stay Matthews is no teenage prodigy. She is a genuine star who has proven herself over a number of seasons. Her offspin netted an impressive 20 wickets last season, and she is backed up by a very good keeper in Redmayne, who snared five stumpings. The loss of prodigious swinger, Julie Hunter will be felt strongly, and Veronica Pyke will need to lead this attack. Unheralded medium pacer, Brooke Hepburn, impressed with her wily changes of pace last season, going for bang on six an over- and one hopes that the sides haven’t figured out how to play her better.
Fielding Preview
The loss of Erin Burns will be felt more in the fielding department than it will in any other. Fielders like Burns can genuinely win you games with their ability to make something out of nothing. The retired Julie Hunter is also a huge loss given the veteran took eight catches last season and was an important leader who set the standards. Corinne Hall, the new captain, and an absolutely brilliant fielder, (see here: https://www.cricket.com.au/video/corinne-hall-catch-to-win-hobart-hurricanes-brisbane-heat-wbbl-video-highlights/2016-01-01) will have to take up that slack, and the dynamic Matthews also provides the ability to change games through her fielding. There are a lot of bit-part players in this team and it isn’t hard to picture them being taken to the cleaners on a couple of occasions- there are a couple of weak links that can be taken advantage of, too.
Betting Opportunities
Top Team B Wicket Taker Hayley Matthews: There is a lack of genuine wicket taking options at the ‘Canes, and this will be a safe bet more often that not. Even if there is a dead-heat, it would still result in a small win.
Example: Game One v Strikers- $4 (Sportsbet)
Runs Fall of First Wicket (over): Winfield and Redmayne promise to be a steady, if unspectacular, opening combination. Both are pretty hard to get out, and the left/right combination is a small little tick, too.
Example: Game One v Strikers- +13.5 $1.86 (Sportsbet)
Predicted Finish
8th.
It’s never nice predicting a side to come last, but someone has to land at the bottom of the ladder.
I look at the batting line-up, and I don’t see enough firepower or depth through the middle order to challenge the top sides; however, as mentioned up top, this side just keeps flying under the radar. If Heather Knight, who is still with the side in a coaching capacity as she sits out injured, was in the line-up, that would be a massive boost. Her strike-rate last season of 118 is impossible to replace. The three internationals will carry a much bigger load than most sides- much of the ‘Canes chances rest with them.
