Australia white-ball star takes the reigns from retired title-winning skipper Elyse Villani

Australia international Nicola Carey will lead the Hobart Hurricanes in their title defence for WBBL|12.

Carey, who is the club’s most-capped women’s player, has been unveiled as Elyse Villani’s replacement following the fairytale finish to her Big Bash career.

A Hurricanes stalwart, Carey has played 88 WBBL games with Hobart since making the move from Sydney Thunder in 2019.

The 33-year-old hit the winning runs against Perth Scorchers to secure the team a historic maiden WBBL title last year.

She’s now hoping to lead her side to consecutive Big Bash titles, a feat never before achieved by the club in either the men’s or women’s competition.

“It’s a huge honour (and) big shoes to fill obviously with Elyse (Villani) leaving us at the end of last season, but I’m incredibly honoured to be given the job,” Carey said in a statement.

“Hopefully I can do half as good a job as Elyse did. Having been vice-captain, I’ve been to a lot of the meetings and seen how Elyse has gone about it, which has been hugely beneficial.

“We’re very different people though, so I feel like I’ll do it my way, but I don’t think that’ll change too much from how I go about things day to day within the group.”

Carey powers to match-winning half ton in record ‘Canes stand

No Hurricanes player has taken more wickets than Carey (85) in the WBBL.

The left-hand batter is also the club’s second-highest run-scorer in women’s Big Bash history with 1,362 runs, trailing only Lizelle Lee (1,409).

Carey is set to be supported by championship-winning teammate Heather Graham, who has been named as the side’s vice-captain for WBBL|12.

While the right-arm quick has limited captaincy experience, she’ll inherit a squad with a strong core of leaders that are firmly focused on the quest for back-to-back titles.

“We come into this competition and everyone starts on zero points again,” Carey said.

“It’s a bit of a different looking side, and other groups are different around the competition as well.

“I want the girls to be able to express themselves, and I’m more of like a sounding board in a way. Obviously, I’ll help with ideas but the girls are really self-sufficient.”

Carey is set to lead a Hurricanes squad missing key personnel from their historic 2025 campaign.

In addition to Villani’s retirement, England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and countrywoman Danni Wyatt-Hodge are notable absentees from the side that beat the Scorchers in last season’s decider.

Hobart Hurricanes’ WBBL|12 squad

Contracted for WBBL|12: Chamari Athapaththu (W|12), Nicola Carey (W|13), Heather Graham (W|13), Ella Hayward (W|13), Chinelle Henry (West Indies)(W|12), Ruth Johnston (W|12), Lizelle Lee (W|13), Kate Pelle (W|12), Hayley Silver-Holmes (W|13), Amy Smith (W|12), Lauren Smith (W|13), Linsey Smith (England)(W|12), Molly Strano (W|13), Rachel Trenaman (W|13), Callie Wilson (W|12)

 

Ins: Ella Hayward (Stars), Chinelle Henry (West Indies), Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka), Kate Pelle

 

Outs: Elyse Villani (retired), Natalie Sciver-Brunt (England), Kathryn Bryce (Scotland), Danni Wyatt-Hodge (England), Isabella Malgioglio

 

Coach: Jude Coleman

Sciver-Brunt announced she wouldn’t be returning to the Big Bash this season due to family reasons in August, while Wyatt-Hodge’s calf injury has ruled her out of any WBBL|12 action.

The dynamic opener has been replaced by Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, who is set to join power-hitter Lee at the top of the order.

Athapaththu is the women’s team’s third international signing on their roster joining West Indian allrounder Chinelle Henry and returning England spinner Linsey Smith on their list.

WBBL|12 starts on Thursday with a double-header at Junction Oval.

Melbourne Renegades take on the Thunder before Melbourne Stars host Carey’s Hurricanes under lights in Melbourne.