Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu has been signed by the Hobart Hurricanes as an overseas replacement for injured England international Danni Wyatt-Hodge ahead of WBBL 12. Wyatt-Hodge has been ruled out of the entire tournament, leaving the reigning champions scrambling for a top-order reinforcement before their season opener against the Melbourne Stars on Thursday.

Why Wyatt-Hodge's Absence Stings

Wyatt-Hodge was the Hurricanes' standout performer in their maiden WBBL 11 title campaign, finishing as the club's leading run-scorer with 432 runs at an average of 48.00. She was crowned the club's WBBL Player of the Year, having blazed a 52-ball 90 in the opening game and going on to compile four half-centuries across the season. Her absence is a significant blow to a side that relied heavily on her at the top of the order.

What Athapaththu Brings to Hobart

At 36, Athapaththu arrives as one of the most experienced overseas names in the competition. Currently ranked sixth in the ICC Women's T20I batting rankings, she has featured in seven previous WBBL seasons across the Perth Scorchers, Melbourne Renegades, and Sydney Thunder. Her most prolific campaign came in WBBL|09 with the Thunder, where she accumulated 552 runs at 42.46 — including five half-centuries — to claim Player of the Tournament honours. She also contributed nine wickets that season, underlining her value as a genuine all-round threat.

What the Hurricanes Said

Hurricanes Head of High Performance Salliann Beams acknowledged the circumstances while expressing confidence in the replacement. 'We're obviously incredibly disappointed for Danni, who has been such an important part of our group and was influential in our maiden championship last year,' Beams said. 'We wish her all the very best with her recovery. To be able to bring in someone of Chamari's quality and experience is a fantastic result for the Hurricanes. She's one of the most dangerous batters in world cricket, she's a proven performer in the WBBL and she brings enormous leadership experience as captain of Sri Lanka,' she added.

Kate Pelle Also Earns a Contract

Emerging wicketkeeper-batter Kate Pelle has also been handed a Hurricanes contract for the upcoming season following a strong Spring Challenge campaign. With star opener Lizelle Lee unavailable during that period, Pelle stepped up to open the batting and produced several eye-catching performances. Beams said the young player had thoroughly earned her opportunity: 'Having someone who can provide flexibility with the bat and also offer another quality option behind the stumps is really important across a competition like the WBBL. Kate has worked hard for this opportunity and we're delighted to reward her performances with a Hurricanes contract.'

Season Ahead for the Reigning Champions

The dual signings give the Hobart Hurricanes a timely squad boost as they defend their title. Athapaththu's vast WBBL pedigree and all-round capabilities make her a like-for-like — and arguably deeper — replacement for Wyatt-Hodge's firepower. The Hurricanes face the Melbourne Stars on Thursday in their WBBL 12 opener, where all eyes will be on Athapaththu to deliver from ball one.