A look at how the Hobart Hurricanes team shapes up ahead of the Big Bash League 2020 (BBL 2020), which begins on December 10.

Hobart Hurricanes are yet to win the BBL over the course of the last nine years. The closest they’ve come to that achievement has been two finishes as runners-up.

After making the final in the 2013/14 of the BBL, Hobart underwent a slump, before recovering to finish as one of the top four teams in each of the last three seasons. Maintaining that streak that will be the minimum requirement for the side this season, under the captaincy of Matthew Wade and guidance of coach Adam Griffith.

Hobart Hurricanes BBL team preview

Hobart Hurricanes have a seemingly fine mixture of experienced domestic players and much-vaunted overseas stars. The presence of seasoned players in James Faulkner, D’Arcy Short and even Tim Paine, who is expected to feature in and around the Australia-India Test series that coincides with the T20 tournament, meshes nicely with the explosive powers of England batsman Dawid Malan, the top-ranked T20I batsman, and highly-rated Nepal mystery spinner Sandeep Lamichhane.

They seem to have a most bases covered. However, whether they can covert the experience and talent into their first ever BBL title remains to be seen.

Hobart Hurricanes squad list

Matthew Wade (c), Scott Boland, Jake Doran, Nathan Ellis, James Faulkner, Jarrod Freeman, Peter Handscomb, Dawid Malan, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, David Moody, Mitchell Owen, Tim Paine, Will Parker, D’Arcy Short, Nick Winter, Mac Wright, Sandeep Lamichhane, Keemo Paul, Johan Botha

Key domestic player: D’Arcy Short

Short finished as the top run-getter for Hobart in BBL 2019/20, scoring 357 runs, including a 103* and three fifties despite playing only nine of the side’s 15 games that year. The top order batsman will have to fire on all cylinders if Hobart are to better their fourth-placed finish last year.

Key overseas player: Dawid Malan

There will be little dispute about this pick for Hobart’s biggest overseas player. Malan, in a 19-T20I strong career so far, has 10 fifty-plus scores and has quickly risen to the top of ICC T20I batsmen rankings. He is in special form too, having led England to a 3-0 whitewash in the recently concluded T20I series against Australia and was named the Player of the Series. He could be the difference for Hobart.

Hobart Hurricanes BBL team schedule

* all times in local time

Dec 10, 2020, Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Sixers, Blundstone Arena, 7:15 pm
Dec 13, 2020, Adelaide Strikers v Hobart Hurricanes, Blundstone Arena, 2:10 pm
Dec 15, 2020, Hobart Hurricanes v Adelaide Strikers, University of Tasmania Stadium, 7.15 pm
Dec 19, 2020, Hobart Hurricanes v Melbourne Renegades, Blundstone Arena, 11.10 am
Dec 27, 2020 Brisbane Heat v Hobart Hurricanes, The Gabba, 6.15 pm
Dec 30, 2020, Hobart Hurricanes v Brisbane Heat, The Gabba, 6.15 pm
Jan 2, 2021, Hobart Hurricanes v Melbourne Stars, Blundstone Arena, 5.05 pm
Jan 5, 2021, Melbourne Stars v Hobart Hurricanes, Blundstone Arena, 4.05 pm
Jan 7, 2021, Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Thunder, Optus Stadium, 3.10 pm
Jan 12, 2021, Perth Scorchers v Hobart Hurricanes, Optus Stadium, 4.15 pm
Jan 18, 2021, Sydney Thunder v Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Showground Stadium, 7.15 pm
Jan 22, 2021, Hobart Hurricanes v Perth Scorchers, Marvel Stadium, 4.05 pm
Jan 24, 2021, Sydney Sixers v Hobart Hurricanes, SCG, 7.15 pm
Jan 26, 2021, Melbourne Renegades v Hobart Hurricanes, MCG, 4.10 pm