Hurricanes boosted by Hunter

AN OPPORTUNITY to not just obtain a fresh start but also begin some game development opportunities led Victorian Julie Hunter to jump ship and become the Hobart Hurricanes inaugural WBBL signing.

And in a further boost for Tasmanian cricket, the Australian bowler will also join the Roar for the WNCL season.

The signing of Hunter is a huge boost for both the Hurricanes and Roar, with the veteran to add plenty of experience to an emerging but still young squad.

Hunter has taken 31 wickets from 49 matches for Victoria and was a major weapon in helping the Spirit win three WT20 titles in a row from 2009-10 to 2011-12.

She also has plenty of international experience, having made her Southern Stars debut during the Rose Bowl series against New Zealand in 2010. The 31-year-old was part of the squad which won the 2010 Women’s World T20 crown in the West Indies, but was sidelined for the majority of the tournament with injury.

But two years later she was crucial in the team successfully defending its title in Sri Lanka, finishing the tournament as the leading wickettaker with 11 scalps.

Hunter was also part of the squads that won the 2013 ICC Women’s World Cup in India and the World T20 in Bangladesh last year.

“I was looking for a fresh start and to do some game development opportunities, I know there are a lot of those opportunities down in Tassie and that’s where I’ve ended up,” Hunter told the Mercury at the launch of the WBBL in Sydney.

“It will be grass roots level and doing a little bit with their junior programs to try and help accelerate things down there.

“It definitely caught my eye last year seeing the progress they [the Roar] have made, Julia Price has done a really good job with them down there. ”

Hunter, who will soon head to England to play county cricket before relocating to Hobart in September, is also hopeful a chance of scenery can help reignite her international career.

“I’m in the Australian squad so my next aim is to get back into the team and from there become a regular fixture hopefully,” she said.

“Ultimately I have to have a good year in Tassie and with the Hobart Hurricanes.

“That is my first goal and I’m sure if I enjoy my cricket down there, which I expect I will, things will start to happen.”