The Hobart Hurricanes enter the 12th edition of the Women’s Big Bash League, running from 29th October to 5th December 2026, as defending champions but with a significantly reshaped squad. Having topped the WBBL 11 league stage with 15 points from 10 games, seven wins, two defeats and a washout, before defeating the Perth Scorchers by eight wickets at Bellerive Oval on 13th December 2025 to lift their maiden title, the Hurricanes now must navigate the loss of captain Elyse Villani to retirement, Natalie Sciver-Brunt’s withdrawal and Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s late injury absence.
With Chamari Athapaththu, Chinelle Henry and Linsey Smith arriving to bolster the group, the defending champions possess enough all-round quality to challenge again, though their pace depth and leadership transition will shape their title defence.
Hobart Hurricanes squad for WBBL 12
Chamari Athapaththu, Nicola Carey, Heather Graham, Ella Hayward, Chinelle Henry, Ruth Johnston, Lizelle Lee (wk), Kate Pelle, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Amy Smith, Lauren Smith, Linsey Smith, Molly Strano, Callie Wilson, Rachel Trenaman
Hobart Hurricanes SWOT Analysis
Pre-Season Build-up
The Hurricanes did a terrific job of keeping their core group together in recent seasons as they built towards their first-ever appearance in a WBBL final, though they will be without their captain, Elyse Villani, next season, after she announced her retirement from the competition shortly after leading her side to its inaugural title victory.
They will also be without England superstar Natalie Sciver-Brunt, who has told the club she is sitting out WBBL 12 after an injury-hampered home summer. Danni Wyatt-Hodge was also slated to return; however, she was ruled out of the tournament only days before the season opener due to injury. Sri Lankan skipper and all-rounder Chamari Athapaththu will in turn join the Hurricanes after departing the Thunder, while Linsey Smith is confirmed to return for WBBL 12, and West Indies all-rounder Chinelle Henry has signed on from the Heat. Heather Graham and Molly Strano were two players the Hurricanes worked smartly and smoothly to secure their services for the upcoming season. The Hurricanes added to their spin department with the inclusion of uncapped Melbourne Star Ella Hayward, who previously featured in 40 matches for the Renegades.
Strengths: Game-Changing Core of All-Rounders
The Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu brings leadership quality to the set-up for the Hobart Hurricanes. On her day, she can single-handedly turn the game around with the bat as well as with the ball for her side. Athapaththu has scored 1,294 runs at a strike rate of 105.63 and an average of 23.10 in 64 innings, including seven half-centuries in 69 matches with the bat over the years in the tournament. Besides her exploits with the bat, she has also picked up 33 wickets at an average of 22.57 and an economy of 7.07 in 38 innings in 69 matches with the ball, bowling off-spin for her side over the years.
The 33-year-old experienced all-rounder Nicola Carey has been a game-changer with the bat as well as with the ball. Carey has been the second-highest run-scorer for the Hobart Hurricanes with 1,362 runs at a strike rate of 102.79 and an average of 21.61 in 80 innings, including five half-centuries in 88 matches with the bat for the franchise so far. She is also the leading wicket-taker for the Hobart Hurricanes with 85 wickets at an average of 24.47 and an economy of 7.60 in 85 innings and 88 matches with the ball for the franchise so far.
Overall, she has scored 1,847 runs at a strike rate of 104.46 and an average of 20.07 in 122 innings, including six half-centuries in 147 matches with the bat over the years so far. Besides her exploits with the bat, she has also picked up 147 wickets at an average of 23.25 and an economy of 7.23 in 142 innings, including a four-wicket haul in 147 matches with the ball over the years so far.
The Caribbean explosive all-rounder Chinelle Henry and Heather Graham also have the potential to change the game with the bat or with the ball on their day under pressure.
Areas of Concern: Onus on Pacers Carey, Graham and Henry
The responsibility in the pace department would yet again be heavily on the shoulders of Nicola Carey and Heather Graham to provide the breakthroughs for the Hobart Hurricanes in the upcoming season. Carey scored 186 runs at a strike rate of 124.83 in 10 innings, including an unbeaten half-century in 11 matches with the bat for her side in the Hobart Hurricanes title-winning campaign. Besides her contributions with the bat, she also picked up 10 wickets at an average of 25.60 and an economy of 7.52 in 11 innings and matches with the ball for her side in the previous edition of the tournament.
Heather Graham ended as the leading wicket-taker for the Hobart Hurricanes in the previous edition of the tournament in 2025, with 16 wickets at an average of 18.43 and an economy of 7.76 in 11 innings, including a four-wicket haul in 11 matches with the ball. Besides her exploits with the ball, she also scored 34 runs in seven innings with the bat for her side in the previous edition of the tournament. Graham has overall scored 1,594 runs at a strike rate of 103.37 and an average of 17.32 in 117 innings, including a couple of half-centuries in 149 matches with the bat over the years so far. Besides her exploits with the ball, she has also picked up 157 wickets at an average of 21.43 and an economy of 7.21 in 141 innings, including a four-wicket haul in 149 matches as a pacer.
The explosive Caribbean all-rounder Chinelle Henry made her Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) debut in the previous 11th edition of the tournament, while representing the Brisbane Heat. She moved to the Hobart Hurricanes for the upcoming season. Henry scored 136 runs at a strike rate of 121.42 and an average of 17 in nine innings and matches with the bat for her side in the tournament so far. Besides her exploits with the bat, she has picked up three wickets at an economy of 8.62 in five innings with the ball for her side in the previous edition of the tournament. She could be a game-changer, particularly with the bat, for the Hobart Hurricanes in the upcoming season. With Australian conditions traditionally providing more assistance for the pacers, her spell with the ball could also prove vital for her side under pressure as they aim to defend their maiden WBBL title in the upcoming 12th edition.
Opportunities: The Likes of Ella Hayward and Amy Smith to Step Up
The promising 23-year-old all-rounder Ella Hayward could have a crucial role to play in the middle-order for her side in the upcoming season. She has been impressive for the Hobart Hurricanes in the recently concluded T20 Spring Challenge, returning with scores of 20, 38, 26* and 14 in four innings with the bat for her side. Besides her contributions with the bat, she has also picked up three wickets in four innings with her off-spin with the ball for her side. Overall, in the WBBL, Hayward has scored 50 runs at a strike rate of 64.93 in 12 innings with the bat over the years. She has also picked up 21 wickets at an economy of 6.96 in 37 innings, including a four-wicket haul in 40 matches with the ball over the years so far.
The 21-year-old leg-spin bowling all-rounder Amy Smith will have a vital role to play in the spin department for the Hobart Hurricanes alongside Molly Strano and Chamari Athapaththu. The spin depth of the squad also features the likes of Linsey Smith and Lauren Smith, alongside the other all-round options. Amy Smith already has 25 wickets at an average of 25.14 and an economy of 6.68 in 52 innings and 57 matches with the ball for her side in the tournament.
Threats: Lack of Depth in the Pace Attack
Nicola Carey, Heather Graham and Hayley Silver-Holmes are the only frontline pace bowling options within the squad. An off day with the ball or an injury to any of the trio could prove to be a massive blow for the defending champions in their aspirations to defend the title. The 22-year-old pacer Callie Wilson is yet to make her mark in the tournament.
Hobart Hurricanes schedule for WBBL 2026
29th October 2026 (Thursday): Match 2: Vs Melbourne Stars. Junction Oval, Melbourne. 1:40 PM IST.
1st November 2026 (Sunday): Match 7: Vs Sydney Sixers. Drummoyne Oval, Sydney. 1:40 PM IST.
4th November 2026 (Wednesday): Match 9: Vs Melbourne Renegades. Bellerive Oval, Hobart. 1:40 PM IST.
7th November 2026 (Saturday): Match 14: Vs Brisbane Heat. Allen Border Field, Brisbane. 1:40 PM IST.
10th November 2026 (Tuesday): Match 17: Vs Adelaide Strikers. Bellerive Oval, Hobart. 1:40 PM IST.
14th November 2026 (Saturday): Match 21: Vs Brisbane Heat. Bellerive Oval, Hobart. 10:10 AM IST.
19th November 2026 (Thursday): Match 26: Vs Perth Scorchers. Allen Border Field, Brisbane. 10:10 AM IST.
21st November 2026 (Saturday): Match 29: Vs Sydney Thunder. Bellerive Oval, Hobart. 6:30 AM IST.
27th November 2026 (Friday): Match 36: Vs Perth Scorchers. W.A.C.A., Perth. 3:40 PM IST.
29th November 2026 (Sunday): Match 40: Vs Adelaide Strikers. Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide. 10:00 AM IST.
I am Yash Tailor, and I believe work should be driven by passion. Therefore, after completing my Engineering, I chose to work in the Cricket industry, my passion. My goal is to reach a stage where I truly enjoy what I do and give my best to every task with energy and purpose.