BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 11: Billy Stanlake of Queensland bowls during the Marsh One Day Cup match between Queensland and Western Australia at The Gabba on March 11, 2021 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Towering quick Billy Stanlake has been granted a release from his contract with the Melbourne Stars to join the Hobart Hurricanes this summer.
Stanlake had one year to run on his contract with the Melbourne Stars, however a domestic move to Tasmania from Queensland for the Sheffield Shield and one-day cup campaigns has seen Stanlake request to move to the Hurricanes to align his domestic and T20 commitments.
The 27-year-old, who has played 19 games in the shortest format for Australia, and has also made seven appearances for the ODI side, has a total of 76 T20 matches under his belt, taking 81 wickets at 26.53.
He has struggled with injury in recent times though, not playing a single game for the Stars last summer as he battled through a stress fracture.
A former Adelaide Striker before linking up with the Stars, the quick has never been able to maintain his potential thanks to injury, and will be hoping the fulltime move to Tasmania turns his career around a corner.
Stanlake hasn't played a single game since May 2021, but will link up with Nathan Ellis, Joel Paris and Riley Meredith in a firey pace attack, while the Hurricanes also added Pakistani spinner Shadab Khan at the recent draft.
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In a statement, Stanlake said his move to Hobart was about a fresh start.
"This season I've made one of the biggest decisions of my career to date by moving states and changing where I train and play for the majority of the year, so to me, it just made the most sense to go all in, and base where I play all of my cricket in the one place," Stanlake said.
"I've obviously had injury troubles for the last 18 months or so, but I'm really happy with how things are progressing and the return to bowling plan we've been working on down here, and so in order to be the best player that I can be for whatever team I commit to, I think this is the best option for all involved."