The Hobart Hurricanes have surged to the top of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 11 standings, marking their most dominant start in a decade. Under the composed leadership of Elyse Villani, the Hurricanes have collected 8 points from four games, winning all four in style between November 9 and 18, 2025.
Their latest triumph came in front of an ecstatic home crowd at Bellerive Oval, where they chased down Adelaide Strikers’ 135 with four wickets and a couple of balls to spare. Danielle Wyatt-Hodge anchored the pursuit with a sparkling unbeaten 72 off 57 balls, laced with nine boundaries, earning her the Player of the Match award. Her match-winning contribution now places her atop the tournament’s run charts with 251 runs at a blistering strike rate of 155.90 and an average of 83.66.
It has been a campaign built on depth, belief, and years of careful planning. Speaking ahead of their first home clash of the season, skipper Elyse Villani reflected on the side’s vibe both on and off the field, “Just really happy with the vibes in the change room, on the field, off the field, everyone seems to be really happy, really enjoying each other’s company, and that’s the vision.” Yet, despite the perfect start, Villani remains grounded.
“We certainly know we’re expecting to lose games this season, that’s just T20 cricket. We’re not trying to shy away from that, but at the same time, we’re trying to set ourselves up to be as consistent as possible and give ourselves the best chance.”
For a team that has often struggled to convert potential into playoff success, this unbeaten start signals real progress. The Hurricanes’ best beginning since WBBL 01, when they also strung together five wins at the start, has reignited belief in Hobart’s long-held ambition of becoming title contenders. However, Villani’s side is doing more than just winning games; they are executing with clarity and confidence. That approach, she said, “is very much similar, whether we’re at home or away.”
Much of that evolution stems from a strategic rebuild led by the Hurricanes’ management. Former spinner and cricket operations lead Kristen Beams explained that the club’s success is the product of measured long-term planning. “I think that’s the difference of the team this year, the depth. It has been a long-term plan, because you’re trying to work out what environment you want to create, and then you’ve got to actually execute that.”
One of the pivotal moves was ensuring former South Africa opener Lizelle Lee could qualify as a local player after relocating to Australia post-retirement. This strategic shift freed up an overseas slot and paved the way for the headline signing of England’s Natalie Sciver-Brunt, adding elite experience to the lineup. Lee, meanwhile, has repaid the faith shown in her with 139 runs at a strike rate of 137.62 and an average of 46.33, making her not only the team’s second-highest run-getter but also joint-third overall in the tournament alongside Beth Mooney.
Beams revealed how calculated recruitment choices transformed the roster, “We took a gamble two years ago not to sign a multi-year overseas player because we knew that there’d be more players (like Sciver-Brunt) available the following year. With Lizzie Lee, we knew if we made a home for her here, she would eventually become a local player, which shifts the lens as well.”
This newfound depth extends beyond the batting order. With the ball, Heather Graham continues to lead from the front, picking up 7 wickets at an average of 15.85 and an economy of 7.40. Her consistency has made her the Hurricanes’ leading wicket-taker and the joint second-highest overall in the ongoing competition, level with Melbourne Renegades’ Georgia Wareham.
For Beams, the team’s current form is as much about chemistry as it is about performance. “We like creating history here, and I see the female program always leading in that direction,” she said. “There’s such great belief, great connection, we feel that whenever we go out and play anyone now that we’ve got clarity on our plans and strength in depth to do it. But we can’t get complacent, that’s for sure. We’ve got our eyes on finishing the competition well and bringing that trophy home.”
As the ‘Cane Train hums through WBBL 11, there’s a sense that this is more than a purple patch; it’s the culmination of a blueprint years in motion. With their balance, belief, and an unbroken winning streak, Hobart Hurricanes have not just set the pace in the tournament; they’ve begun to redefine what purple dominance looks like in the Australian domestic women’s cricket circuit.
(Quotes sourced from cricket.com.au)
Loves all things female cricket