Hobart Hurricanes’ new skipper Sasha Moloney is ready to embrace her new role as Tasmania’s WBBL franchise prepares to put the finishing touches on their pre-season.
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The hard-hitting batter and handy off-spinner, who is originally from the North of the state, will replace Corrine Hall as captain with the 26-year-old confident her game could grow under the leadership spotlight.
But she will have plenty of help, with Hall, England captain Heather Knight and Tasmanian skipper Brooke Hepburn all in her squad.
Moloney has fought back from an ACL injury last year to be named skipper.
“I am looking forward to the challenge, and I know it will be a challenge,’’ she said on Monday.
“Having someone like Heather Knight, who is the England captain, come into our side, I think that is going to be unbelievable.
“That is going to be a great opportunity for me to learn a lot from her, as well as Brooke and Corrine.
“Sall (coach Salliann Briggs) spoke to me about that ability to make quick decisions, so that is one thing, but I lead pretty well on and off the field as well, so that is something that I will be looking forward to doing in the Big Bash.
“That is something I will have to work well as we go along this season, but I also think I probably perform a little bit better under pressure as well, so I think it is something that might help my game, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Briggs admitted the change in Cricket Tasmania’s women’s program, with a move to full-time training and more professional approach, facilitated the change in leadership.
“She’s quite fierce with her decision-making and we wanted someone to take it by the scruff of the neck really and give those leadership skills that we think are going to get us over the line,’’ Briggs said of Moloney.
“We just wanted someone who was different from the current group of girls that adds a different type of diversity and different type of thinking.
“(I think this will) free her up to be the player she wants to be being in the team each week.”
Moloney joins Emma Thompson, Ashley Day and Rhiann O'Donnell as signings in recent days.
The ‘Canes, minus their internationals, will head to Sydney on Wednesday for practice matches in Wollongong and Blacktown against the ICC's Women's World Development XI, the Sydney Sixers and a Sydney Thunder-ICC combined side.
Their first match of WBBL04 will be against the Perth Scorchers in Melbourne on December 1, with their first home matches at Burnie’s West Park on December 8 and 9, against the Melbourne Stars.