Pace bowler Joel Paris is the Hobart Hurricanes first new signing ahead of the eleventh season of the Big Bash League.
The West Australian left-armer, now 28, has signed a two-year deal with the club.
Paris comes to the Hurricanes from his hometown team of the Perth Scorchers. He initially made a name for himself as a gun cricketer in the one-day format of the game for Western Australia.
He then made his Australian debut in the ODI format in the 2015-16 series against India, replacing an injured Mitchell Starc. He played two matches in the series for one wicket.
Standing at 191cm tall, Paris had injury woes of his own early in his career, but in latter years has gone from strength-to-strength to make his name as one of the country’s leading fast-bowlers in white ball cricket.
Although unfortunately he had a limited BBL10 campaign, playing just one match, Paris claimed Western Australia’s One-Day Player of the Year Award for season 2020-21. Playing in the side that finished eventual runner up to the NSW Blues in the 2020-21 Marsh One-Day Cup, Paris took 10 wickets across the six-game season, with best figures of 4-21.
Similar to another former Scorcher, Tim David, who came across to the Hurricanes last season with great success, Paris said he was looking forward to his opportunity with the Hurricanes.
“In the past season I’ve felt that both my body and my cricket has been heading in the right direction again. I really enjoyed the responsibility and opportunity I got in the one-day competition last year, and I’m hoping I can contribute in the same way to the Hurricanes.”
Paris joins Scott Boland, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Peter Handscomb, Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Wil Parker, D’Arcy Short, Matthew Wade and Mac Wright as players currently contracted to the Hurricanes for BBL11.
Trivia: Paris’ one ODI wicket was Indian batsman Shikar Dawan, caught behind by now Hurricanes’ team-mate Matthew Wade. Former Hurricane captain George Bailey also played in the same match, indeed top-scored with 76 not out to take Australia to victory.
Joel Paris’ BBL career stats. He has also taken 8 catches.
