The Hobart Hurricanes have signed proven Perth Scorchers middle-order finisher Nick Hobson to their squad for BBL|16.
After spending his entire BBL career with the Scorchers, the left-hander will make the move to Hobart this summer, adding further experience and power to the Hurricanes’ middle order.
Hobson said the opportunity emerged after he began exploring options for more consistent cricket following the end of last season.
“The season finished with Perth last year and I was probably a little bit in and out of the team and was after a bit more consistent cricket,” Hobson said.
“I asked my manager to have a bit of a look around to see what was on the market. Hobart showed some interest and at the time I wasn’t too sure where I’d fit in, but I guess they were planning for life after Matthew Wade transitioning to coaching and were after someone to bat towards the back end of the innings.
“I had a good chat with them and in the end things lined up and really happy to have joined the Hurricanes.”
Hobson has forged a reputation as a dangerous late-innings hitter during his time in the Big Bash, famously hitting the winning runs against the Brisbane Heat to secure the Scorchers’ fifth title in 2022-23.
The 32-year-old has settled into the number six and seven roles in recent seasons after beginning his career higher up the order, and sees an opportunity to complement one of the competition’s most destructive finishers in Tim David.
“They’re after a left-handed option through their middle order and it’s a role I’ve been playing for Perth and really enjoy as well,” Hobson said.
“Obviously got Tim David, who’s the best finisher in Australia, but hopefully I can complement Tim somewhere down around the end of the innings and we can have some fun together.”
Hobson said the Hurricanes’ recent consistency and established playing group were also significant factors in his decision to head south.
“They’ve got a strong core group of players who have started to play a lot for Australia in white-ball formats and in franchise cricket around the world,” he said.
“They’ve been really consistent, particularly the last few years, and looked really threatening last year as well.
“It was definitely a big appeal when I kind of made my mind up I was after a bit of a change, to be in a team that performed strongly and hopefully I can play a role in pushing towards another Big Bash trophy down in Hobart.”
Hobson is currently playing T10 cricket in Vancouver and hopes the additional short-form cricket will provide valuable preparation before linking with his new Hurricanes teammates ahead of BBL|16.
HOBART HURRICANES BBL|16 SQUAD
Nikhil Chaudhary, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Nick Hobson, Shai Hope, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Billy Stanlake, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster, Adam Zampa
