Big Bash League: Perth Scorchers set for stern challenge against ‘very strong’ Hobart Hurricanes on Boxing Day

Perth Scorchers finisher Nick Hobson is expecting his side to face a stern challenge against a “very strong” Hobart Hurricanes outfit in their blockbuster Boxing Day clash at Optus Stadium. The defending champions have won two of their first three games this season and will come into their trip to Perth on the back of a dominant seven-wicket victory over Melbourne Renegades in Geelong on Monday. Meanwhile, the Scorchers will be eager to bounce back from their remarkable loss to Brisbane Heat at the Gabba, which came despite them posting the second-highest total in BBL history of 6-257 in the first innings. With the club hoping to attract a crowd of 45,000 people for the fixture, Hobson said the Scorchers were prepared to rise to the occasion. “They’re champions for a reason. They’ve got a very good, balanced team,” he said. “They’ve got a powerful batting line-up and then some pretty experienced bowlers with some pace and some pretty good variations, so they’ll be a strong opposition for us. “But equally, the boys feel like we can get back to 2-1, which would be nice.” Playing Perth on their own turf can often prove confronting for opposing BBL sides due to the Scorchers’ fervent home support and Optus Stadium’s lightning-fast wicket. But Hobart are the owners of a reasonable record at the venue, where they have won three of the six games played between the sides. Hobson said he did not expect the cross-country trip to hold any fears for the Hurricanes. “I’m sure they’re confident; they have a right to be,” he said. “We try and use our conditions to our advantage with the big square boundaries and the pace in the wicket. “We’ll try and make some of their big hitters hit to the big boundary, and hopefully we can come out on top.” As well as a pace attack led by former Scorcher Chris Jordan and express speedster Riley Meredith, the Hurricanes also boast a pair of internationally-capped leg-spinners in Bangladesh’s Rishad Hossain and England’s Rehan Ahmed. Hobson said he had been impressed with what he had seen from the Hurricanes’ spin twins, who combined to take two wickets while giving away only 46 runs across eight overs against the Renegades, “From what I’ve seen, Hossain gets really good bounce and uses his variations,” he said. “Spin has had success here at Optus, with the big square boundaries. Those wrist-spinners will try and make us batsman hit to the big pockets of the ground. “It’ll be a good challenge . . . no doubt, us as a batting group, will be preparing for those two wrist-spinners. It should be really exciting.”