The Hobart Hurricanes have received a timely boost ahead of Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 11, confirming the re-signing of 24-year-old all-rounder Rachel Trenaman, whose resilience and form in her comeback season have made her one of the most inspiring stories in Australian women’s cricket.
After three years disrupted by multiple knee surgeries, Trenaman’s return to professional cricket has gathered momentum, and her new deal with the Hurricanes is set to mark the latest chapter in a career that once threatened to be derailed by injury.
Trenaman re-emerged in February this year with a remarkable run of scores for Tasmania in the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL), 63, an unbeaten 80, and a career-best 124 in consecutive matches.
Those knocks not only confirmed her growing confidence but also signalled that her time away from the game had done little to dull her batting instincts. In just four innings in WNCL 2025, she piled up 279 runs at an average of 93 and a strike rate of 76.02, including two fifties and a century, emphatically stamping her comeback credentials.
Speaking after her signing, Trenaman was visibly thrilled to be back in purple. “I’m really excited to be representing the Tasmanian community for another season,” she said. “We have a well-rounded squad, and I feel this season will be something special, especially off the back of the men’s title win. I’m grateful to be a part of the Hurricanes, and to be out there playing T20 cricket again is something I’ve really strived for.”
First breaking through as a 17-year-old with Sydney Thunder in WBBL 04, Trenaman’s early career showcased her dual skills as a dynamic middle-order batter and handy leg-spinning option. In 23 appearances for the Thunder, she scored 286 runs (Strike Rate 96.62, average 16.82), alongside four wickets across nine innings with the ball. She was part of the Thunder’s championship-winning squad in WBBL 06, before moving to the Hurricanes ahead of WBBL 07.
Her debut season in purple came in WBBL 08, where she featured in 12 matches, scoring 131 runs with the highest score of 31. However, the following seasons were marred by injuries that delayed her career progression.
The 2025 summer has since marked an emphatic return: not only did Trenaman shine in the WNCL, but she also earned selection for the ‘Green vs Gold’ match in March, followed by a standout contribution in an Australia ‘A’ four-day fixture against England, and a strong showing across limited-overs matches against India A. Impressively, she scored four half-centuries in just five games in that series, evidence of her grit and ability to adapt across formats.
Hurricanes Head Coach Jude Coleman emphasised the significance of welcoming Trenaman back into the squad. “We are really excited to have ‘Trenno’ back with the Hurricanes this WBBL season. She is one of the most talented young batters in Australia, and it is just great to see her back, fit and ready to play some T20 cricket. Having not played T20s since WBBL 08, it’ll be great to have Trenno out in purple once again.”
Trenaman will slot into a Hurricanes line-up that already boasts international stars and seasoned domestic performers, including Nicola Carey, Heather Graham, Ruth Johnston, Lizelle Lee, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Amy Smith, Lauren Smith, Linsey Smith, Molly Strano, Elyse Villani, and Danni Wyatt-Hodge.
With one of the more balanced squads on paper, the Hurricanes will look to build on the energy surrounding Tasmanian cricket after the Hurricanes men’s side clinched their maiden BBL title earlier this year. For Trenaman, though, the return itself is already a major victory.
As the Hurricanes prepare for WBBL 11, the return of their determined No. 11 signing represents more than just squad depth; it symbolises resilience, perseverance, and the sheer love of the game.
(Quotes sourced from Hobart Hurricanes Press Release)
