Hurricanes coach Gary Kirsten pulls up stumps in shock move

CRICKET Tasmania has gone from discussions of having more involvement with Gary Kirsten in its programs to none after the South African resigned as coach of the Hobart Hurricanes.

Hobart Hurricanes coach Gary Kirsten on the waterfront in Hobart. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

UPDATED: CRICKET Tasmania has gone from discussions of having more involvement with Gary Kirsten in its programs to none after the South African resigned as coach of the Hobart Hurricanes.

Kirsten, who signed a two-year deal last year, took Hobart to the BBL final last summer before the side was beaten by the Adelaide Scorchers.

However he has stepped down from returning in 2018-19 because of undisclosed personal reasons, with Tigers coach and Hurricanes assistant Adam Griffith to take the reins of both programs.

CT CEO Nick Cummins said while the organisation was understanding of the circumstances, it was bitterly disappointed to lose such a high-calibre figure — especially given talks about expanding his role had begun only weeks earlier.

“He has become a very passionate and ardent Hurricanes supporter… we were actually talking to him before about expanding his role and have him working as a mentor in the Tigers list space as well,” Cummins said.

“We have gone from more Gary to no Gary in a very short period of time. He is disappointed, as are we.

Cricket Tasmania CEO Nick Cummins speaking to reporters at Blundstone Arena to announce the sudden departure of Gary Kirsten. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

“It is a real personal blow, we enjoyed working with him, he had a significant impact on the program in a very short period of time.

“He was great for the reputation of the program but most importantly he was also a really good bloke.

“He has done that [resigned] for a very specific personal reason, which I can’t expand on in too much more detail on his request.”

Cummins said the Hurricanes were still working with Kirsten to see if it was possible to fly him out to Australia during the Big Bash to give him a send-off in front of local fans.

“We are working with Gary to see if we can get him to come this summer and allow the fans to give him a proper send off, which is he keen to do but at this stage it is a work in progress.”

BBL Hobart Hurricanes and Tasmanian Tigers coach Adam Griffith, left, and Cricket Tasmania CEO Nick Cummins at today’s press conference. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

Griffith, who in his first year as Tigers coach took the squad to the Sheffield Shield final, expects there to be limited impact stepping into the main role in the Twenty20 sphere.

The former quick served an apprenticeship under Justin Langer at the Perth Scorchers, and said the majority of the messages will remain the same.

“Everyone has a different style in how they approach coaching, Gary and I were a little bit different in the way we did things but we also had some similarities.

“The continuity is going to be really important for me personally, and the messaging will be pretty similar.”

EARLIER: SOUTH African Gary Kirsten has stepped down as Hurricanes coach after one year at the helm.

Hobart Hurricanes coach Gary Kirsten at an intra-club practice match. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Kirsten, who was appointed to a two-year deal, took Hobart all the way to the BBL final last year, where the side was defeated by the Adelaide Strikers.

Tigers coach and Hurricanes assistant Adam Griffith will take the reins of the Twenty20 program for the 2018-19 summer.

It is unknown on the reasons on Kirsten’s decision, with Griffith and Cricket Tasmania chief Nick Cummins to address the media this morning.

More to come ...