Ricky’s back: Ponting to lead Hurricanes search for new coach

There’s no bigger name in Australian cricket than Ricky Ponting and now the legend has rejoined the Hurricanes in a pivotal role.

AUSTRALIAN and Tasmanian cricketing icon Ricky Ponting will be tasked with helping find the Hurricanes next coach after becoming Hobart’s Head of Strategy.

As revealed by News Corp last week, Ponting – arguably the world’s No.1 cricket brain — has signed a three-year deal with the male Hurricanes program which, will see him identify candidates for the now-vacant head coaching position, and work on match and list strategy with the then-appointed coach.

The former Australian Test captain will be immediately linked to his close friend, former national coach Justin Langer, who severed ties with Cricket Australia at the end of Australia’s 4-0 thrashing of England and after taking Australia to a shock T20 world cup victory last year.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 20: Ricky Ponting is seen prior to the Big Bash League match between the Melbourne Renegades and the Melbourne Stars at Marvel Stadium, on January 20, 2021, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

As well as being a highly regarded pundit on Channel 7’s cricket commentary during the Australian summer, Ponting has also previously held interim and specialist coaching roles with the Australian men’s cricket team, as well as successful coaching terms with both the Mumbai Indians and the Delhi Daredevils/Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Ponting said he was thrilled to be able to contribute to an organisation he felt so passionately about.

“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,” he said.

“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.

“I’m looking forward to getting to work and securing the best coach for what we need then building a plan for the team to execute next season.

“With a few tweaks in a couple of key areas, I believe the Hurricanes have the foundations to win our first BBL trophy.”

Cricket Tasmania CEO Dominic Baker said it was great for both Tasmanian cricket and the BBL as a whole to have Ponting in the competition’s inner circle.

“To be honest, I think Ricky probably just said ‘yes’ as he was sick of me hassling him to come and join us,” Baker said.

“But really, it is such a win for not only the Hurricanes and Tasmanian cricket, but for the League itself.

“In my mind, Ricky is undoubtedly the best T20 strategist in the world, and as a proud Tasmanian, we are thrilled to have him overseeing the direction of Tasmania’s team for at least the next three seasons.”

Ponting will officially begin his tenure with the Hurricanes effectively immediately.

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