Iain Carlisle is an Australian fast bowler who plays for the Hobart Hurricanes. Born on 5 January 2000 in Canberra, the 6 ft 4 in right-armer is one of Tasmania’s brightest pace prospects — a tall swinger with a killer yorker who has been knocking on the BBL’s door for a couple of seasons now.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full name | Iain James Carlisle |
| Born | 5 January 2000, Canberra, ACT |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in |
| Role | Bowler |
| Batting | Left-handed |
| Bowling | Right-arm fast-medium |
| BBL team | Hobart Hurricanes (squad no. 35) |
| State team | Tasmania |
| Local club | North Hobart Cricket Club |
Early Life and Move to Tasmania
Carlisle was born in Canberra and grew up in Wollongong and Sydney, coming through the NSW junior system. He stood out at the Under-19 National Championships and toured Sri Lanka with Australia’s Under-19 side. But opportunities at home were hard to come by, so he made the brave call to relocate to Tasmania at the start of the 2019-20 season, picking up a rookie contract with the Tigers.
It was a slow burn. Carlisle spent a few seasons learning his craft around veterans like Jackson Bird and Peter Siddle, working with bowling coach Rob Cassell and turning out for North Hobart in Premier Cricket. The patience paid off in a big way.
His Premier Cricket numbers show the work he put in: 123 wickets at 24.46 for North Hobart across 93 matches, with a best of 6 for 12 — plus handy lower-order runs, including a best of 56. The club even used him as an opener in T20 cricket, which tells you how much his batting has come along.
Domestic Career
Carlisle made his Marsh Cup debut for Tasmania in 2022-23 against Western Australia, with his first-class debut following two weeks later against Queensland. The breakthrough came at the back end of the 2023-24 Sheffield Shield season — 20 wickets in four matches as Tasmania surged to the Shield final. He had burst onto the national scene, just as the Hurricanes expected when they first signed him.
In first-class cricket he now has 21 wickets at 24.80 with a best of 4 for 68, plus 7 wickets at 27.00 in List A cricket. Those red-ball numbers are the platform. The white-ball game is the next frontier.
BBL Career
Carlisle joined the Hurricanes ahead of BBL|14 and was re-signed on a two-year deal in 2024. He is still waiting for his first Big Bash appearance — and you can see why. The Hurricanes’ pace attack features international-quality quicks: Nathan Ellis and Riley Meredith. Breaking into that group is no one’s idea of an easy job.
But the club rates him highly. Head coach Jeff Vaughan has called him “incredibly driven” and praised his improvement over recent seasons, noting he has the new-ball swing, variations and strong bouncer needed for T20 success.
When Carlisle re-signed in 2024, his own words showed where his head is at: “I’m really excited to be signing on with the Hurricanes again for the next two years. I’m looking forward to hopefully breaking into the starting XI in the coming season while helping bring success to the organisation and our Hurricanes fans!” Vaughan added that watching Carlisle’s improvement “has filled me and the rest of the coaching staff with pride” — and that his red-ball success is “a just reward for the effort he has put in.” BBL|16 could finally be the summer Carlisle gets his chance.
BBL Season by Season
| Season | Team | Note |
|---|---|---|
| BBL|14 | Hobart Hurricanes | Joined squad; no debut |
| BBL|15 | Hobart Hurricanes | Second squad season; no debut |
| BBL|16 | Hobart Hurricanes | Pushing for first appearance (squad no. 35) |
Playing Style
Carlisle is a tall right-armer who swings the new ball away from right-handers and follows it up with a good yorker and a strong bouncer. At 6 ft 4 in he gets awkward bounce without needing express pace, and he keeps things tight with the new ball. His batting has improved too — North Hobart have used him as an opener in T20 cricket and as a pinch-hitter, which tells you how far that part of his game has come.
Recent Form and What to Watch
Carlisle’s case for a BBL debut rests on his Sheffield Shield form — that 20-wicket burst in 2023-24 remains his calling card. Tasmania’s Shield campaign is the shop window: more new-ball wickets there, and the Hurricanes will have to find him a game. Watch his early-season white-ball form for Tasmania. If he takes early wickets and shows his yorker is back, the Hurricanes’ selectors will have to make room.
The Hurricanes have strengthened their squad for the new season with spin talent like Rishad Hossain. For Carlisle, the battle is with his fellow quicks. The 2026-27 squad lists him at no. 35 behind captain Nathan Ellis and Riley Meredith, with young Will Prestwidge also in the mix. One injury, one rest, one tactical call — and his BBL debut finally arrives. The wait has been long, but the reward could be worth it.
Key Stats
First-Class Career (Tasmania)
| Matches | Wickets | Avg | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 21 | 24.80 | 4/68 |
List A Career (Tasmania)
| Matches | Wickets | Avg | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 7 | 27.00 | 3/39 |
Breakout Season
| Season | Format | Wickets | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Sheffield Shield | 20 | 4 |
No BBL debut yet. Last verified: 18 October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which BBL team does Iain Carlisle play for?
Iain Carlisle plays for the Hobart Hurricanes, where he has been in the squad since BBL|14 on a two-year deal.
Has Carlisle made his BBL debut?
Not yet. He has been waiting behind Nathan Ellis and Riley Meredith in a strong Hurricanes pace attack.
Where is Iain Carlisle from?
He was born in Canberra, grew up in Wollongong and Sydney, and moved to Tasmania in 2019-20 for more cricket opportunities.
See the BBL 2027 schedule for Hurricanes fixtures, meet the other BBL 2027 teams, and check the BBL 2027 points table once the season starts.