The Hobart Hurricanes have added exciting teenage fast bowler Ira Aery and experienced New Zealand international Maddy Green to their squad ahead of tomorrow night’s WBBL|12 season opener against the Melbourne Stars.
Aery, 17, has joined the reigning champions as an injury replacement for Callie Wilson, while Green has been recruited following a quad injury to English spinner Linsey Smith at training on Tuesday night.
Smith will undergo scans to determine the extent of the injury, with the Hurricanes hopeful of having the English international available later in the tournament.
Green, an experienced international who has represented New Zealand across all formats, adds valuable batting depth and versatility to the Hurricanes' line-up.
The latest setbacks follow the withdrawal of English star Danni Wyatt-Hodge through injury, with Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu subsequently joining the Hurricanes squad.
Aery, meanwhile, has enjoyed a rapid rise through the cricketing ranks, making her senior state debut for Victoria last summer and representing Australia at Under-19 level.
A right-arm fast-medium bowler, Aery was rewarded with a full Victorian contract for the 2026-27 season and was also part of Australia's Under-19 squad which toured Sri Lanka last year.
She is already familiar with the Hurricanes environment, having represented Hobart during this month's Spring Challenge, and has been included in the squad for Thursday night's clash at Junction Oval.
Hurricanes Head of High Performance Salliann Beams said the additions of Aery and Green would provide valuable depth as the club navigated a challenging build-up to its title defence.
“It's certainly not the preparation we would have hoped for on the injury front, but we're fortunate to be able to bring in two quality players who offer different strengths to our squad,” Beams said.
“Maddy brings a wealth of international experience and is a really versatile cricketer who we know will fit well into our group.
“Ira is an exciting young fast bowler who has achieved a lot in a relatively short period of time, and we're delighted to welcome her into our WBBL squad.
“We had the opportunity to work with her during the Spring Challenge, so she already has an understanding of our environment and what we're trying to build here.
“While it's disappointing to lose players through injury, it creates opportunities for others and we're confident in the depth we've assembled.”
The Hurricanes will launch their title defence following last summer's historic championship triumph, with Beams confident the group can overcome its disrupted preparations.
Thursday night's clash will also mark a significant personal milestone for experienced all-rounder Heather Graham, who is set to become just the seventh player in WBBL history to reach 150 appearances.
“There's a lot of excitement within the group, but we also understand that last season's success counts for very little once the new competition begins,” Beams said.
“We've got a really good balance within the squad and the focus is on continuing to improve, playing the brand of cricket that brought us success and making a strong start to the season.”
HURRICANES SQUAD
- Nicola Carey (c)
- Ira Aery
- Chamari Athapaththu
- Ella Hayward
- Heather Graham
- Maddy Green
- Chinelle Henry
- Ruth Johnston
- Lizelle Lee
- Kate Pelle
- Lauren Smith
- Molly Strano
- Rachel Trenaman
Match Details:
Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Stars
Thursday 29 October 2026
Junction Oval, Hobart
First ball: 7:10pm AEDT
Broadcast: Seven | Fox Cricket
Livestream: 7Plus | Kayo Sports