Villani boards the Cane train to complete Tassie move

The Hobart Hurricanes have pulled off the biggest signing coup of the Weber WBBL off-season to date, luring experienced former international Elyse Villani away from the Melbourne Stars.

Villani, who captained Tasmania to their first domestic one-day title earlier this year, had been linked with a move to the Hobart club for some months, and her new two-year deal was confirmed on Wednesday morning.

The decision completes Villani’s move to the Apple Isle, after she departed her native Victoria and took up a contract with Cricket Tasmania in 2021.

The 32-year-old, who will also captain the Hurricanes, admitted no longer playing any cricket in Melbourne would be a strange feeling, but the appeal of having her state and Big Bash sides aligned in her new home of Hobart proved one of the deciding factors.

"It was an incredibly difficult decision to make," Villani told cricket.com.au, saying she had made a call prior to the player leave period in April and May.

"I've got some amazing friends at the Melbourne Stars, who I was really sad to leave, and knowing that I may never play cricket with some of those people again was really sad.

"But then at the same time, it was a very exciting opportunity to come to the Hurricanes and to be offered the captaincy, and to spend more time at home."

The Hurricanes will be Villani’s third WBBL club; she started her Big Bash career at the Perth Scorchers before moving to the Stars ahead of WBBL|05.

The right-hander’s arrival at the top of the order will strengthen the club’s top-order as they aim to return to the semi-finals for the first time since WBBL|02, and for the first time under coach Salliann Beams.

Last season saw teenager Ruth Johnston, who has signed a new deal with the Hobart club, regularly open alongside former New Zealand international Rachel Priest, who is off contract.

The Hurricanes have now confirmed eight players for WBBL|08, with Villani joining former Perth Scorcher Heather Graham as the two new faces to date, while off-spinner Molly Strano penned a new deal.

Australia quick Tayla Vlaeminck (Renegades) and former captain Sasha Moloney (Stars) are the confirmed departures from the side that finished sixth on the table in WBBL|07.

"It's one thing to have a really solid base, which I think we've got," Villani said.

"But we also know that at the end of the day, it's not a team on paper that that wins tournaments and it's actually extremely difficult to win a tournament.

"I haven't had the pleasure of being able to be a part of a winning side yet in (the T20) format.

"We’ve got an extremely strong list on paper, I think we've got the right people and a good mix of experience in youth, and amazing coaching staff and backroom staff.

"So it's really going to be up to the playing group to gel together as quickly as possible, really understand and identify what our game plan is and what kind of the brand of cricket that we want to play as the Hurricanes.

"If we can do that successfully, then we're giving ourselves the best chance of being successful."

Hobart have seven spots to fill, including all three overseas slots, with Villani coy when asked who might take those positions.

Last season, Priest was joined by South Africa’s Mignon du Preez and India’s Richa Ghosh, the latter a late addition when Protea Lizelle Lee withdrew before the start of the season.

"I’ve had some really good discussions with Sal around identifying the overseas players that that we need – it's really important to get your local players locked in first, and identify what you feel you need to bolster with your internationals," Villani said.

"I feel like we've got some really good internationals heading our way – a blend of experience and youth which is always really exciting.

"So hopefully now we've got a really balanced list and I'm looking forward to reconvening with a couple of people I’ve played with before."

Villani’s departure is a significant blow for the Stars, given her experience and strong record at the top of the order batting alongside captain Meg Lanning, and the Melbourne club’s otherwise relatively inexperienced group.

She was the club’s leading run scorer with 439 at a strike rate of 122.28 last season, including an unbeaten century in their final match, following the 360 runs she hit during a WBBL|06 campaign that saw the Melbourne club finish runners-up to Sydney Thunder.

"A couple of my good mates (at the Stars) in Tess Flintoff, and Nicole Faltum and Kimmy Garth were asking me questions at the end of last season, and I was just really honest with them and said I wasn't really sure where my where my head was at with it," Villani said.

"I knew if I was offered the opportunity at the Hurricanes, it would be something that I would consider, living in Tasmania and really enjoying my time here.

"At the end of the season, I had a few discussions and weighed up my options and I was pretty honest with Sal (Beams) and (assistant coach) Dan Marsh that I didn't feel like there was a wrong decision to me ... I felt like there was some really good pros on both sides.

"But ultimately, I just went with what felt the most right for me."

Hobart Hurricanes WBBL|08 squad so far: Elyse Villani (c), Nicola Carey, Maisy Gibson, Heather Graham, Ellie Johnston, Amy Smith, Molly Strano, Rachel Trenaman

Melbourne Stars WBBL|08 squad so far: Meg Lanning (c), Lucy Cripps, Sophie Day, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Kim Garth, Rhys McKenna, Sasha Moloney, Sophie Reid, Annabel Sutherland