For over a decade, the Hobart Hurricanes’ goal was to win the Big Bash League title. The franchise reached the BBL finals twice, in 2014 and in 2018; however, they lost both finals. Their first-ever BBL title win came in 2025 under the captaincy of Nathan Ellis.
Nathan Ellis made his official BBL debut with the Hobart Hurricanes in 2019. In his first BBL season, Ellis played all of 15 matches with the Hurricanes and took 16 wickets in the entire tournament. In the 2024-25 BBL, Ellis performed as the full-time skipper of the Hobart Hurricanes, where he played 10 matches, took 13 wickets in the entire tournament. Ellis also became the first-ever captain from Hobart Hurricanes that was able to lift the BBL trophy.
Nathan Ellis Captaincy Records in BBL
| Season | Matches | Wins | Losses | Final Result |
| BBL 13 (2023–24) | 10 | 4 | 6 | Did Not Qualify (5th) |
| BBL 14 (2024–25) | 10 | 8 | 2 | CHAMPIONS |
| Overall | 23 | 14 | 8 | 1 Title |
Nathan Ellis’s first BBL season as the captain of the Hobart Hurricanes came in 2023, where he inherited the Hurricanes captaincy from the veteran Matthew Wade. During his first season as the captain, Ellis’s Hurricanes lost six matches and were able to win only four matches, resulting in their disqualification from the tournament.
However, in the 2024-25 season, under Ellis’s captaincy, the Hurricanes played very brilliantly, and they won eight matches and lost only two. Ultimately, they qualified for the finals, where they defeated the Sydney Thunder to win their maiden BBL title.
Nathan Ellis’s Leadership Impact on Hobart Hurricanes
Nathan Ellis’s BBL Statistics for Hobart Hurricanes
| Team(s) | Mat | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HH | 71 | 86 | 4/27 | 4/27 | 24.90 | 8.19 | 18.2 | 3 | 0 |
Nathan Ellis has brought a unique style of leadership to the Hurricanes locker room. Ellis is the first specialist bowler to captain a side to a BBL title. This showcases his skills and his ability to manage his bowling unit effectively, especially in the notoriously difficult death overs.
When Ellis was appointed as the captain of the Hurricanes, his primary objective was to build a team where every player knew their job, and the result of this mentality was showcased at the big stage of BBL 14 final, where the young local batter, Mitchell Owen. compleyey outcalseed the entire Sydney Thunder’s experienced bowling line-up. Owen’s innings was a direct result of the license and confidence given to him by the captain and coaching staff.
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Ellis’s personal journey is also motivational, as he moved to Tasmania hoping to find a better path in professional cricket. His entire life story creates a deep impact on the locker room, all of which resulted in a deep, emotional connection with the Hurricanes. This connection allowed Ellis to believe in his team members, which allowed them to play their natural roles in the playing 11. After winning the BBL 14 title, he described the win as being “for Tasmanian cricket”. This short statement was worth way more than it seems, as it encourages other players to achieve their dreams.
