Price fears slick Strikers

HOBART Hurricanes coach Julia Price says Adelaide underperformed last season and that makes the Strikers doubly dangerous in their WBBL season-opening double-header at Glenelg Stadium today and tomorrow.

The Hurricanes have done their due diligence on the talent-packed Strikers but they did not have to look far to spot Australian Ashes bowler Megan Schutt, who has WBBL best figures of 3-8, and England Ashes opening batter Tammy Beaumont.

Adelaide also snared Suzie Bates from the Scorchers to captain it this summer in a major recruitment coup.

Price said the Strikers were obviously very keen to bounce back from finishing last in WBBL02.

“They’ve got a really good team but I suppose they underperformed last year and they will be looking to come back and show everyone what they can do,” Price said before the team headed for Adelaide.

“We are very mindful of that.” The Hurricanes finished fourth last summer but the loss of England skipper Heather Knight could prove to be a telling blow.

New imports, England’s World Cup-winning keeper-batter Lauren Winfield and Indian batter Veda Krishnamurthy, will make their debuts in purple.

“Not many people know a lot about them but they have both got the X-factor,” Price said.

“Lauren is not playing in the international team for England in the T20 side at the moment, so she’s really keen to get in there.

“Veda is also really keen to get some bowling under her belt, which she’s not doing in India.

“So playing for us is a prime opportunity for them to really show what they’ve got.”

The Hurricanes play the Strikers at 2pm today, followed by a second crack at them at noon tomorrow.

“We’ve got a slightly different squad but the girls have jelled together really well, particularly at the Hurricanes camp in Launceston last weekend,” Price said.

“They are ready to go.”