Hurricanes lock in squad for BBL|09

27 Nov 2019 Luke D'Anello

Emerging paceman and experienced spinner the final two additions for Hobart Hurricanes ahead of the start of the Big Bash League season

Hobart Hurricanes have completed their roster for the coming KFC Big Bash League season, securing an emerging quick and re-signing a dependable spinner.

Paceman Nathan Ellis, who shot to prominence during this season’s Marsh One-Day Cup, has joined the Hurricanes, while experienced spinner Clive Rose will also be back at Hobart for BBL|09.

After making the move to Tasmania in 2017, the 25-year-old NSW-born bowler made an immediate impact for the Tigers in the 50-over format, collecting 12 wickets from his first seven games in the one-day domestic ranks – the third most in this year’s competition.

Ellis returned a haul of 5-38 against a star-studded NSW side in the 50-over tournament last month and also grabbed 3-35 against Victoria in September.

Ellis upstages Test stars with five against former state

He finished with a superb average of 22.58 and respectable economy rate of 5.21, with only Western Australia’s Nathan Coulter-Nile (17 wickets) and Queensland’s Mark Steketee (13) more prolific with the ball.

Ellis has also been in red-hot form in the Cricket Tasmania Premier League, collecting remarkable figures of 9-30 from 11.1 overs in a match for local club Lindisfarne earlier this month.

Rose has been part of the Hurricanes’ squad since BBL|05, and has developed into a reliable performer.

The left-arm orthodox spinner has claimed 18 wickets for the Hurricanes in the last four seasons at an economy rate of 7.92.

Rose has career-best figures of 2-11 in the BBL and brings much-needed experience to the squad.

The Hurricanes finished in top position last summer before departing the title race in the semi-finals.

A new-look, five-team finals series has been introduced for the 2019-20 season to better reward teams that finish in the top two.

Played over two weekends, the new five-match finals system guarantees a double-chance for teams that finish first and second in the regular season.

Hobart have never won the tournament, finishing runners-up in BBL|03 and BBL|07.

Hobart Hurricanes squad: Qais Ahmad (OS), George Bailey, Scott Boland, Jake Doran, Nathan Ellis, James Faulkner, Jarrod Freeman, Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Simon Milenko, David Miller (OS), David Moody, Tom Rogers, Clive Rose, D’Arcy Short, Aaron Summers, Matthew Wade