Adam Zampa Joins Hobart Hurricanes for BBL 2026-27
Adam Zampa, the most prolific spinner in Big Bash League history, is heading south. The 34-year-old has signed with Hobart Hurricanes for BBL 2026-27, leaving Melbourne Renegades via the competition’s free-agent market and dropping straight into an attack that already looks built to bully opponents.
This is no fringe signing. Zampa is Australia’s leading T20I wicket-taker and the benchmark slow bowler the BBL has produced. His numbers in the competition are stark: 138 wickets in 121 appearances at an economy rate of 7.28. That’s control and cutting edge, season after season.
Hobart becomes his fifth BBL home after earlier stints with Sydney Thunder, Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Stars and most recently the Renegades. Few bowlers know the quirks and rhythms of this league better.
"I'm really excited to be joining the Hurricanes. It's a strong squad that has enjoyed plenty of success over the past couple of seasons and I'm looking forward to getting down to Hobart and being part of it," Zampa said, outlining the appeal of a side that has quietly built one of the most rounded bowling groups in the competition.
There is also a familiar face at the heart of the move. “I’ve known Nath [Ellis] for a long time and we’ve played a lot of cricket together, so the opportunity to link up with him at the Hurricanes was definitely something that appealed to me," he added. "There’s a lot of quality in the group and hopefully I can come in, play my role and help the team have another successful season.”
Inside Cricket Tasmania, the signing landed with the weight of a statement. General Manager of High Performance Salliann Beams did not bother to play it down.
"Adam was arguably the biggest name available on the market, and we're thrilled that he has chosen to join the Hurricanes," she said. "His record speaks for itself. He's Australia's leading T20I wicket-taker, the most successful spinner the Big Bash has seen and has performed at the highest level of the game for a long period of time."
The Hurricanes were already armed with pace and variety. Nathan Ellis, Riley Meredith and Billy Stanlake form a seam trio that can attack at every phase of the innings. Now they add Zampa’s leg-spin, guile and game sense.
“We already have an outstanding bowling group led by Nathan Ellis, Riley Meredith and Billy Stanlake, and adding someone with Adam's experience and skillset gives us another genuine world-class option," Beams said. “Importantly, Adam knows the Big Bash incredibly well. He understands the competition, he understands how to perform in different conditions and he has shown throughout his career that he can have an impact in the crucial moments."
That last point is the heart of it. Zampa is not just a numbers bowler; he is a moments bowler. The kind who takes the ball when the game tightens, when a set batter threatens to break loose, when a power surge looms.
“To be able to add a player of his quality to the group is a significant result for the Hurricanes and we're really excited to see what he can bring to the team," Beams said.
For Hobart, this is more than a marquee name on a team sheet. It is a clear tilt at turning a strong squad into a title-winning one. With Zampa anchoring the middle overs and Ellis driving the death, the Hurricanes now own a bowling unit that looks built for pressure, for finals, for the sharp end of the Big Bash.
