Two key members of the Hobart Hurricanes’ maiden WBBL championship side are returning to Tasmania this season.
English pair Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Linsey Smith were both instrumental in the Hurricanes’ breakthrough title and will again add significant international experience to a squad preparing to defend its Big Bash crown.
Wyatt-Hodge enjoyed an outstanding second season in purple, finishing as the third-highest run-scorer in the competition with 432 runs at an average of 48.
The dynamic opener produced four half-centuries across the tournament and was rewarded with selection in the WBBL|11 Team of the Tournament, before being crowned the Hurricanes’ WBBL Player of the Year.
Her impact was immediate, blasting a career-best WBBL score of 90 from just 52 deliveries in the season opener against Sydney Thunder, an innings which helped set the tone for what would become a historic campaign for the Hurricanes.
Wyatt-Hodge said returning to Hobart after the success of last summer was an easy decision.
“I absolutely loved being part of the Hurricanes last season and obviously to finish it by winning the title made it incredibly special,” Wyatt-Hodge said.
“We had such a good group and I loved the way we played our cricket. There was a lot of belief within the squad and we had a lot of fun along the way, so I’m really excited to get back to Hobart and be part of it again.
“Last season was probably some of the most enjoyable cricket I’ve played. Hopefully I can come back, contribute at the top of the order again and help us have another successful season.”
Smith proved equally important with the ball during her first season as a Hurricane, with the left-arm spinner claiming 15 wickets to finish second only to Heather Graham among Hobart’s wicket-takers.
The England international also played an important role on the biggest stage, returning figures of 2-8 in the final to help restrict the Perth Scorchers to 5-137 before the Hurricanes completed their historic title victory.
Smith said the opportunity to return to a championship-winning group was one she was looking forward to.
“I had such a brilliant time in Hobart last year and to win the competition in my first season with the Hurricanes was pretty special,” Smith said.
“It was a really enjoyable group to be part of and I felt like I was able to settle into my role quite quickly and contribute to the team.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back to Tassie. We know every season presents a different challenge, but hopefully we can build on what we achieved last year and give ourselves another opportunity to be in the hunt.”
The return of Wyatt-Hodge and Smith provides further continuity for the defending champions ahead of WBBL|12, with six members of last season’s title-winning squad recently committing to the Hurricanes for the next two seasons.