Hooley Dooley: Breakout star re-signs with Hurricanes

Loyalty is at the heart of Paddy Dooley's decision to re-sign with the Hobart Hurricanes for two more seasons, with the mystery spinner eager to continue his journey with the club that gave him his first KFC BBL contract.

While he made his Big Bash debut for the Brisbane Heat at the backend of BBL|11 as a COVID replacement player – the result of nine years of toil in Queensland grade cricket – it was the 'Canes who offered the 25-year-old a full-time role for this season.

And after a breakout campaign that has yielded as much success as it has hype around his 'double windmill' bowling action, Dooley is excited to build on his 19-wicket debut season in the Apple Isle until at least 2025.

"(I'm) absolutely pumped, just the fact that Hobart gave me my opportunity with a full contract, being able to re-sign and keep going (is great)," Dooley told reporters today.

"The big thing for them was they brought me in for my first deal and gave me a crack straight away – getting to play every game I was available for was fantastic.

"Loyalty was a big one for me, the fact that I've been playing Brisbane grade cricket for nine years and this was my first contract, it's definitely one I wanted to repay.

"I also love playing here and I loved living here for the two months I was here."

After taking nine wickets in his first four games of the campaign, including 4-16 against the Perth Scorchers when he knocked over the likes of Faf du Plessis and Josh Inglis, the Hurricanes moved quickly to secure the spinner's signature.

And despite no doubt believing in his capabilities to produce at the top level, even Dooley says he was surprised at how quickly he became his side's and one of the competition's most damaging bowlers.

"I knew I was going to stay, I think it was after maybe the third or fourth game that I played that they were on the phone with my manager to lock me down, so I was pretty keen to get it signed as quickly as possible," he said.

"I was assuming there would be a bit of regression in my performances because I got off to a really good start, but it kept going well.

"I was just glad to get that security so I could keep focusing on my cricket.

"I'm surprised just in general (with) how well I've gone, it's been really cool. I'm just trying to bowl my best ball every ball and try not to get hit for six."

Dooley's cult hero status emerged almost instantly at the start of the season, with the left-armer's Jasprit Bumrah inspired action endearing him to fans around the country.

Its success impressed his rivals too, with Perth Scorchers skipper Ashton Turner labelling it as "more than just an unusual action" following his side's capitulation against him in Launceston early in the season.

"The fans have been fantastic – it's funny I have this weird action and I release the ball a bit funny and I think people have responded to that," he said.

"Just the fact that it's more praise than making fun of the action, which, if I was an outsider, I'd be making fun of my own action, but it's been really good."

After finishing the regular season in seventh place on the BKT Golden Arm standings, more opportunities appear to be on the horizon for the solicitor by day.

While he says he would love to explore his red-ball options both in Australia and abroad, Dooley says he has sought advice from teammate Tim David about joining the T20 and T10 circuits around the world.

"It's definitely things I've got to weigh up, if I got an offer for a state gig that would be fantastic and alternatively there's options overseas and then the T20 and T10 circuit as well," he said.

"I've just got to see what's best for me in terms of getting my body right and playing as much cricket as I can against high quality competition.

"Tim has been great giving me advice on that because obviously there's pros and cons either way.

"He just said as opposed to being a fringe guy in a state set up, if you're playing the T20 circuit you get the opportunity to play against good players consistently.

"Tim's been really good, he's extremely insightful and he's a great person to bounce off."