BBL News This Week: Hurricanes land young English talent, Strikers re-sign batsman
The Hobart Hurricanes made a splash by announcing the signing of a highly sought-after English batsman, while Nathan Coulter-Nile and Glenn Maxwell found form in the IPL.
SIGNINGS
The Hobart Hurricanes confirmed their second overseas signing, securing 22-year-old uncapped English batsman Harry Brook ($125k estimated, BAT).
Brook was the ninth top scorer in The Hundred, with 189 runs from five knocks, averaging 47.25 with a 153.65 strike rate for Northern Superchargers. Only Liam Livingstone had a better batting average. He held the best batting average in the Vitality T20 Blast at 69.42, posting 486 runs from 13 knocks with a strike rate of 149.07 for Yorkshire.
He has won lots of plaudits and also was awarded the 2021 Cricket Writers’ Club Young Player of the Year Award this week, but has never played in the BBL.
Brook said: “Over the years I’ve really enjoyed watching English cricketers like myself come out to Australia, and it seems that not only have they really enjoyed their time playing in the BBL, but a lot of them have also taken their game to the next level. I’m really hoping that I can do the same, so I just can’t wait to get there, get stuck in and learn as much as I can.”
RE-SIGNINGS
The Adelaide Strikers confirmed they have tied down Ryan Gibson ($63k estimated, BAT) again this season after making a decent impact in a middle-order role, with 100 runs at an average of 20 from nine innnigs.
“I had an amazing time as a Striker last summer and am really looking forward to getting back out there,” Gibson said.
Check out all the updated squads and player price predictions.
INJURIES
Renegades skipper Aaron Finch ($63k estimated, BAT) looms as a cheap option in BBL|11 and there’s no concerns about the knee injury he sustained in July, declaring himself fit to go for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
“I’ve been batting for a couple of weeks after some modified running in the first three-and-a-half weeks,” Finch said on Wednesday. “The last couple of weeks have been fine. I’ve been building up gradually. I had a meeting with the surgeon yesterday and he was really happy with where it’s at.”
FORM GUIDE
Nathan Coulter-Nile ($193k estimated, BWL) claimed Player of the Match honours this week with figures of 4-14 in the IPL as the Mumbai Indians thrashed the Rajasthan Royals, while Glenn Maxwell‘s ($179k estimated, BAT/BWL) run of half-centuries came to an end, albeit with a 40 from 25 balls in the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s loss to the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Check out our full form guide for all players.
