Ruth Johnston to play for Tasmania and Hobart Hurricanes in WBBL10

The all-rounder has signed two-year contracts with both of the teams

Tasmania’s women’s cricket team gained a talented player in 21-year-old all-rounder Ruth Johnston as she has signed for the team. Johnston also extended her contract with the Hobart Hurricanes in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL10).

Ruth Johnston, a promising all-rounder, has signed two-year contracts with both the Hobart Hurricanes and Tasmania, unifying her commitments across the state and Big Bash League.
Locking in her future with the Hurricanes, rising star Ruth Johnston has extended her contract with the Weber WBBL team until the conclusion of the 2025-26 season. This move mirrors teammate Hayley Silver-Holmes’ recent two-year extension.

Released by her home state Queensland, Ruth Johnston (21) finds a new home with Tasmania’s WNCL team (Tigers). The Tigers are gunning for a fourth consecutive title, while Johnston will hope to contribute to the Hurricanes’ quest for their maiden WBBL championship.

Although Johnston was on the Queensland team that fell to Tasmania in the WNCL final last season, it was her only appearance for the Fire that year. Unable to secure a regular spot, she now seeks a fresh start in Tasmania.

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“The Tigers have been setting the standard for the WNCL for the past few seasons, and to have the chance to be part of the program was exciting,” Johnston said.

I love playing in Tasmania for the Hurricanes, so it has decided to move to the Tigers program an easy one.

“I’m super excited to be playing for the Hurricanes for two more seasons.

“They allowed me to play in the WBBL when I was young, so I am confident that I can help contribute to their success this year and in coming seasons.”

Johnston is joined by fellow signee Hayley Silver-Holmes and established stars like Heather Graham, Amy Smith, Molly Strano, and Rachel Trenaman, forming a formidable Hurricanes squad for the upcoming Weber WBBL|10 season.

Despite hailing from Queensland, Johnston threw her lot in with the Hurricanes before WBBL|07. Her commitment has been unwavering, with a near-perfect attendance record of 41 appearances in 42 possible games.

Thrust into the opening role at just 18 due to Hurricanes’ injuries for WBBL|07, Johnston seized the moment. Partnering with captain Rachel Priest, she amassed 199 runs, including a match-winning 63 against the Renegades, showcasing her talent on the big stage.

Not just a batting talent, the right-arm off-spinner Johnston also showcased her bowling prowess, taking 13 wickets for the season. Her best figures of 4-8 came against the Melbourne Stars in just her third WBBL match, highlighting her all-rounder potential.

Building on her impressive debut, Johnston displayed remarkable consistency by playing every game in WBBL|09. This dedication allowed her to further hone her skills and become an even more valuable player for the Hurricanes.

The WBBL|10 season is gearing up! Earlier this month, the team-building process kicked off with the opening of the contracting window. Each team needs to finalize a 15-player main squad before the season starts, with at least two overseas players chosen through the upcoming draft.

The draft order for WBBL|10 is set to be decided by a lottery in June, with the draft itself planned for September. This exciting process will determine which teams get the first pick of the best young talent and overseas stars.

WBBL|10 will be the first season with a streamlined format featuring 40 regular season matches, down from 56 in the previous season. This move brings the WBBL in line with the men’s Big Bash, promising a more action-packed schedule for fans.