After clinching their maiden Big Bash League (BBL) title earlier this year, the Hobart Hurricanes are gearing up to take their talents to the international stage. The reigning BBL champions are expected to participate in the 2025 Global Super League (GSL), set to take place in Guyana this July.
Operated by Cricket Tasmania, the Hurricanes received a special invitation to compete in the GSL as a result of their championship victory in January. This will mark the second time an Australian team enters the tournament, following Cricket Victoria’s participation last year, when they fielded a squad in traditional state colours and impressively finished as runners-up.
Building a Competitive Squad
Cricket Tasmania is reportedly preparing to send a full-strength side under the Hurricanes name, although player availability could be impacted by Australia’s busy international calendar. The GSL is scheduled to run alongside Australia’s Test tour of the Caribbean, and just before a five-match T20I series against the West Indies.
Beau Webster, who recently signed with the Hurricanes, may be unavailable if selected for the Test squad. T20I regulars Nathan Ellis and Tim David are also likely to be part of Australia’s white-ball squad, which could rule them out of GSL action. Speedster Riley Meredith is another in contention for national duty.
While David is yet to officially re-sign with the Hurricanes for the upcoming BBL season, he is widely expected to do so. Interestingly, due to a brief appearance for Rangpur Riders in this year’s Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), David may technically be eligible to play for the defending GSL champions—though the Hurricanes remain hopeful he’ll suit up in purple.
Cricket Tasmania has reportedly been in discussions with Cricket Australia (CA) regarding the availability of Ellis and David. However, as a centrally contracted player, Ellis may be held back by CA to ensure he’s fresh for international commitments.
A Growing Tournament with Global Aspirations
The GSL has quickly gained traction as a platform for high-quality franchise cricket outside the traditional domestic leagues. Last year’s tournament featured a mix of emerging talent and seasoned international players. Cricket Victoria’s squad, for instance, included former New Zealand allrounder Corey Anderson and Netherlands captain Scott Edwards, alongside a contingent of developing Australian talent.
Cricket Victoria CEO Nick Cummins reflected positively on the experience, emphasizing the potential of the GSL to fill the void left by the now-defunct Champions League T20.
“It was amazing,” Cummins told ESPNcricinfo. “We were really impressed with how they ran the tournament, the quality of the cricket and the quality of the wickets. I’ve long been an advocate for bringing back the Champions League, and I’d really love to see that take place. At the moment, the GSL is the closest thing cricket’s got to that.”
Cummins also mentioned the preference for teams to compete under their BBL identities, rather than state colours, adding:
“I think they prefer that we’re playing in Big Bash colours rather than state colours, and hopefully that’s something that evolves too.”
Looking Ahead
There is speculation that the GSL may shift its schedule to February in future editions, which could create challenges for Australian teams hoping to participate due to the overlap with the domestic season. The Perth Scorchers, for example, were invited to compete last year but declined, citing fixture clashes in December.
Despite the scheduling complexities, the Hurricanes’ inclusion this year is a strong signal of the tournament’s growing credibility. As anticipation builds, all eyes will be on who makes the final squad—and how the Hurricanes fare on their global debut.
