AUSTRALIAN Twenty20 skipper George Bailey and explosive wicketkeeper batsman Tim Paine will be in purple again this summer after re-committing to the Hobart Hurricanes.
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Paine (who averages 23 from 44 T20s at a strike rate of 126.48) has signed on for the next two seasons, with Bailey (who averages 28.54 from 95 T20s at a strike rate of 136.65) opting for a one-year contract for Tasmania's T20 franchise, which finished runner-up in the last Big Bash League.
Bailey, who believed he would be able to play five or six times during the season, said the squad so far was exciting, especially with the recruitment of England's Alex Hales.
``What you need in your squad is balance and that's what we've been trying to put together around a core group of six or seven,''said Bailey, who is likely to represent his IPL side Punjab, not the Hurricanes, in the upcoming Champions League.
``But now I think we will have some good options to go in any direction, depending on where you are playing and what the weather conditions are like.''
Cricket Australia is yet to release this summer's BBL fixtures.
HOBART HURRICANES SQUAD SO FAR: George Bailey, Travis Birt, Cameron Boyce, Xavier Doherty, Evan Gulbis, Alex Hales, Ben Hilfenhaus, Joe Mennie, Tim Paine, Sam Rainbird, Jon Wells.