Smith cops hefty ban

Hobart Hurricanes keeper Emily Smith has been banned from all forms of cricket for three months after being found in breach of Cricket Australia’s anti-corruption code for an ill-advised Instagram post

THE frustrated Hobart Hurricanes are hoping to salvage something out of the back end of their WBBL season.

Hobart is winless in its past seven matches, having failed to add to its opening two victories in the first weekend, and faces the Sydney Sixers — a team it has never beaten — tomorrow, followed by its first games at Blundstone Arena: against the Heat on Friday and Strikers on Saturday night.

Captain Corinne Hall said the introduction of so many new players to the squad had created cohesion issues.

“It is very hard to get seven or eight new players into a team and then have a week out as a group before the competition starts to completely understand how to get the best out of the players,” Hall said.

“It is probably just that, and figuring out how best to use the players we have got in our team in different situations in a match.

“We are frustrated because we haven’t played our best yet, but we still have been putting some good performances on the park.”

The biggest changes have been to the bowling line-up with the inclusion of Australia’s fastest bowler, Tayla Vlaeminck, fellow new ball bowler Belinda Vakarewa, leg-spinner Maisy Gibson and Australian all-rounder Nicola Carey. Hall said it was not the bowlers’ fault the Hurricanes found themselves in such a dire position.

The Hurricanes coaching staff and leadership group have been doing the sums and they need to win all five of their remaining games and have other results go their way to make the finals.