Matthews to stick with Hurricanes in Big Bash
Teenaged West Indies Women stroke-maker, Hayley Matthews, will spend a third consecutive season with Hobart Hurricanes in the Women’s Big Bash League after penning a new contract for the upcoming season with the Tasman side.
The 19-year-old has emerged as one of the game’s leading women’s batsmen, underlined by her role in helping West Indies secure their maiden Twenty20 World Cup in India last year.
“I’ve played there for the last two years and the main reason I’m coming back is the bond I have with the team, coaches and everyone down there,” Matthews said.
“It would definitely be a huge motivating factor this year to go one step further - get to the finals and win the whole tournament.”
Last season, the right-handed Matthews struggled with the bat, gathering only 185 runs but topped the bowing charts for Hobart by picking up 20 wickets at 15 runs apiece with her off-spin.
Behind her efforts, Hobart were good enough to reach the semifinals before bowing out to Sydney Sixers.
Hurricanes will be without last season’s leading scorer in England’s Heather Knight, but have drafted in overseas players Lauren Winfield and Indian Veda Krishnamurthy, to bolster their line-up.
Matthews said playing alongside such quality players would also be extra motivation.
“I’ve played a bit against both Lauren and Veda. I think they’re great players and I’m really looking forward to playing alongside them and picking their brains as they’re very experienced,” Matthews noted.