SYDNEY: Australian cricket great and current Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting on Thursday signed a three-year deal as head of strategy for the Tasmanian Hurricanes in Australia’s Big Bash League.
The Hurricanes have never won the domestic T20 competition in their 11-year history and Tasmanian-born Ponting said that he was keen to change that.
“With a few tweaks in a couple of key areas, I believe the Hurricanes have the foundations to win our first BBL trophy,” said the 47-year-old, who played for the side in the first two years of the tournament.
“The competition and the game itself have changed enormously from when I played for the Hurricanes back in BBL 01 and BBL 02, and I now know so much more about the nuances of the T20 game now than I did then.
“I’m passionate about the progression of Tasmanian and Australian cricket across all forms of the game so to be asked to take on such a critical role for the Hurricanes is really special.”
Ponting’s first task is to help the Hurricanes secure a new head coach after Adam Griffith stepped down at the end of last season.
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He will work with the coach on management decisions as well as team strategy and culture, but will not have a day-to-day role during the season and will continue to work as a cricket commentator during the Australian summer.
Ponting, who will also remain as coach of the Delhi Capitals, has not previously had an official off-field role in the BBL but he has worked as a coaching consultant for Australia in limited-overs cricket.
Ponting is regarded as one of the best batsmen of his generation and captained his country, before retiring from international cricket in 2012.
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