Hope, Rutherford to make debuts in Big Bash

MELBOURNE, Australia (CMC):

West Indies opener Shai Hope was rewarded for his recent outstanding performances when he was selected by the Hobart Hurricanes during the Big Bash League draft here Sunday.

Hope, who was named Player-of-the-Series following the West Indies’ 3-0 whitewash of South Africa in the just completed T20 series, was picked by the Hurricanes in the platinum category for the tournament, which will run December 15 to January 26.

He will be reunited with head coach Ricky Ponting, who was also his head coach at the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League for the 2024 season.

It will be Hope’s first season in the Big Bash.

Meanwhile, the 26-year-old Sherfane Rutherford, who will also be making his debut in the Big Bash, was chosen by the Sydney Thunder in the silver category.

West Indians Akeal Hosein, Fabian Allen, and Barbadian-born Jacob Bethell were also drafted.

Hosein was drafted by the Sydney Sixers in the gold category even though he is only available for seven games this season.

Allen will turn out for the Adelaide Strikers and Bethell, who was recently chosen by England to play in the upcoming T20 series against Australia, will play for the Melbourne Renegades.