Long-time Perth Scorchers batter Nick Hobson has signed with the Hobart Hurricanes, saying he left the west in search of more consistent cricket.
The 32-year-old left-hander has spent his entire Big Bash career with the Scorchers.
He hit the winning runs against the Brisbane Heat to secure that club’s fifth title in 2022-23.
Hobson said he asked his manager to look at other options after the end of last season.
“The season finished with Perth last year and I was probably a little bit in and out of the team and was after a bit more consistent cricket,” he said.
“Hobart showed some interest and at the time I wasn’t too sure where I’d fit in, but I guess they were planning for life after Matthew Wade transitioning to coaching and were after someone to bat towards the back end of the innings.”
After starting his career higher up the order, Hobson has batted at six and seven in recent seasons.
Speaking to media on Friday, he described himself as “probably a left-hand glorified slogger”.
The Hurricanes have called him a “proven Big Bash finisher”. He joins a squad that already includes Tim David.
“Obviously got Tim David, who’s the best finisher in Australia, but hopefully I can complement Tim somewhere down around the end of the innings and we can have some fun together,” Hobson said.
He said the club’s recent consistency and its core group of players, several of whom have started playing regularly for Australia in white-ball formats, helped make up his mind.
“It was definitely a big appeal when I kind of made my mind up I was after a bit of a change, to be in a team that performed strongly and hopefully I can play a role in pushing towards another Big Bash trophy down in Hobart,” Hobson said.
He plans to bring his young family, including a seven-month-old child, to Tasmania for most of the season.
Hobson is currently playing T10 cricket in Vancouver before linking with his teammates in Hobart.
Nikhil Chaudhary, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Nick Hobson, Shai Hope and Ben McDermott are among the players in the full Hurricanes squad.
Joining them are Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Billy Stanlake, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster and Adam Zampa.
The Hurricanes play their first match of BBL16 against the Brisbane Heat at Ninja Stadium in Bellerive on December 17.
