One of the most damaging pace bowlers in Australian cricket, Billy Stanlake, has committed to the Hobart Hurricanes for another season.
Signing a one-year deal with the Hurricanes, Stanlake will continue his BBL career in purple ahead of BBL|14 as he looks to establish himself as a key member of the Hurricanes bowling line-up.
Joining Nathan Ellis, Chris Jordan, and Riley Meredith, Stanlake will provide another bowling option, using his height and raw pace to terrorise opposition batsman.
“I am excited to be around the core group of guys for another, and to stay within one system for the whole 12 months in Tasmania.
“I am confident that we can improve on last season, and I am looking forward to winning some more games!” said Stanlake.
Hailing from Queensland, Stanlake debuted for the maroons in the Marsh Sheffield Shield and One Day Cup during the 2015-16 season, before playing for the Adelaide Strikers in BBL|05.
After exciting Australian selectors during his first two seasons of professional cricket, Stanlake was rewarded with selection in the Australian ODI and T20 teams.
He received a Cricket Australia contract in 2017-18, and played exclusively for Australia and the Adelaide Strikers when he helped them to a BBL title.
Stanlake’s experience also led him to play in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad in successive years, before a string of injuries stopped him from continuing to dominate at the highest level.
Having played 19 T20 Internationals for Australia, and 7 ODIs, he provides the Hurricanes with plenty of short form experience, paired with his 52 BBL matches and nearly 50 wickets.
Last season, Stanlake returned to First Class cricket with an eight-wicket haul against Queensland taking 4 wickets in each innings and played in one BBL|13 match against the Perth Scorchers.
An unfortunate injury to his back towards the back end of the 2023-24 summer, prevented Stanlake from continuing to perform for Tasmania, but he is aiming to return to action for the Purple Army ahead of BBL|14.
Cricket Tasmania’s General Manager of High Performance, Salliann Beams, discussed his potential and her excitement to see Stanlake playing in purple once again.
“Billy gives us another element to our pace bowling line-up, his height and bounce offers something different to the other bowlers on our list.
“We have seen how damaging he has been in the BBL, and for Australia, and are excited to see what’s to come for him this season,” discussed Beams.
The Hurricanes list is one step closer to being finalised now that Stanlake, and overseas signings Shai Hope, Chris Jordan, and Rishad Hossain were added during the BBL|14 Draft on the weekend.
Stanlake joins Iain Carlisle, Nikhil Chaudhary, Tim David, Paddy Dooley, Nathan Ellis, Peter Hatzoglou, Shai Hope (O/S), Rishad Hossain (O/S), Caleb Jewell, Chris Jordan (O/S), Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Matthew Wade, Charlie Wakim, and Mac Wright as Hurricanes players under contract ahead of BBL|14.
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