Nicola Carey, the experienced 33-year-old all-rounder and newly appointed Hobart Hurricanes skipper, etched her name further into Women’s Big Bash League history by becoming only the eighth player to reach 150 appearances since the tournament’s inaugural edition in 2015. The milestone arrived in the Hurricanes’ third game of the ongoing 12th edition, against the Melbourne Renegades in the ninth match of the season at Bellerive Oval, Hobart, on 4th November 2026. Yet, while Carey’s all-round brilliance embodied the resilience that has defined her WBBL journey, the Hurricanes were left devastated by a last-ball defeat, their third consecutive loss of the campaign.
Sent in to bat after Renegades skipper Sophie Molineux won the toss and opted to field, Hobart found themselves in immediate peril at 8/2 in the second over, with Molineux striking twice. Carey, however, responded with the composure of a player well-versed in crisis management. She held the innings together despite regular losses at the other end, crafting a fighting 62 off 43 balls laced with 10 boundaries. Her half-century anchored the Hurricanes to 154/7, giving the defending champions a competitive total on a demanding day.
Carey’s influence did not end with the bat. She returned figures of 3.5-0-30-2, removing Courtney Webb for 29 off 25 balls and Georgia Wareham for 17 off 11, keeping the Renegades under sustained pressure. The contest ultimately descended into a nerve-shredding finale, with Melbourne needing one run from the final delivery. What appeared destined for a tie, and potentially a Super Over, was dramatically overturned when Hurricanes wicketkeeper Lizelle Lee collected the ball in front of the stumps. The TV umpire ruled it a no-ball, handing the Renegades a heart-wrenching win and extending Hobart’s winless start.
A Foundation Laid at Sydney Thunder
Nicola Carey’s WBBL story began with the Sydney Thunder, for whom she debuted on 6th December 2015 against the Sydney Sixers in Sydney. Across 59 matches for the Thunder, she established herself as a dependable seam-bowling all-rounder, taking 62 wickets at an average of 21.59 and an economy rate of 6.72 in 57 innings, including one four-wicket haul. Her finest bowling display came on 3rd January 2016 against the Hobart Hurricanes at Hobart, when she produced sensational figures of 3.2-0-12-4 in the second innings to help the Thunder secure a 26-run victory.
With the bat, Carey contributed 485 runs at a strike rate of 109.48 and an average of 16.72 in 42 innings for Sydney Thunder, including a half-century. Though her batting role evolved after her move south, those early years laid the groundwork for the versatile match-winner she would become.
Becoming a Hurricanes Great
Carey joined the Hobart Hurricanes in 2019, debuting for the club on 19th October 2019 against the Melbourne Stars in Melbourne. In the seasons since, she has become central to the Hurricanes’ identity, currently leading their all-time wicket charts with 90 scalps at an average of 24.24 and an economy of 7.66 in 88 innings across 91 matches. She is also the franchise’s second-highest run-scorer, with 1,457 runs at a strike rate of 104.29 and an average of 22.07 in 83 innings, including six half-centuries.
Her best WBBL batting effort in the tournament came representing Hobart Hurricanes on 13th November 2024 against the Adelaide Strikers at Hobart, when she struck an unbeaten 64 off 46 balls from No. 3, featuring seven boundaries and a six. Her innings powered the Hurricanes to 191/2 and a 28-run win. Last season, under Elyse Villani’s leadership, Hobart captured their maiden WBBL title by defeating Sophie Devine’s Perth Scorchers by eight wickets in the final at Bellerive Oval on 13th December 2025. Villani subsequently retired from the tournament, with the captaincy baton now passed on to Nicola Carey.
A Double Landmark and the Road Ahead
Carey’s 150th appearance followed another personal milestone. In the Hurricanes’ previous game against the Sydney Sixers at Drummoyne Oval on 1st November 2026, she reached 150 WBBL wickets with figures of 4-0-31-3, dismissing Ellyse Perry, Eva Ragg, and Erin Burns. Hobart, however, lost that match by 87 runs.
Overall, Carey now has 1,942 runs at a strike rate of 105.54 and an average of 20.44 in 125 innings, alongside 152 wickets at 23.16 and an economy of 7.28 in 145 innings, with seven fifties and one four-wicket haul across 150 matches.
Her next challenge comes against Georgia Redmayne’s Brisbane Heat at the Allan Border Field, Brisbane, on 7th November 2026 in the 14th match of the edition, starting at 1:40 PM IST. For a player whose career has been built on steadying storms, Carey will hope the milestone match’s cruel ending becomes the catalyst for a Hurricanes resurgence.
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.