Ricky Ponting, who resurrected the fortunes of Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the last five years, has rejoined the Hobart Hurricanes as Head of Strategy ahead of Season 12 of the Big Bash League (BBL).
Ponting, Australia's all-time leading run scorer in Test cricket, has signed a three-year contract with the Hurricanes after appearing in eight games for them in the first two BBL seasons.
Ponting's role as Head of Strategy will see him have a say in the Hurricanes' new head coach's appointment and work on match and list strategy with the newly appointed coach, according to a release from the Hobart Hurricanes.
Justin Langer, a longtime friend of Ponting's and a former Australia men's coach, has previously been connected to the Hurricanes head coaching position, which has been vacant since Adam Griffith quit at the end of BBL-11.
Ponting, 47, has previously served as an interim and specialised coach for the Australian men's cricket team.
He has previously stated that the time commitment of being the head coach of a national team has deterred him from coaching Australia full-time.
"The competition and the game itself have changed significantly since I played for the Hurricanes in the BBL-01 and BBL-02, and I know so much more about the complexities of the T20 game now than I did then," Ponting said on Thursday, according to Australian media.
"I'm passionate about the development of Tasmanian and Australian cricket in all forms, so being asked to play such an important role for the Hurricanes is truly incredible." I'm excited to go to work finding the best coach for the job and then putting up a strategy for the club to accomplish next season.
"I feel the Hurricanes have the foundations to win our first BBL trophy with a few modifications in a number of crucial areas," he was quoted as saying in the Hurricanes announcement.
According to cricket.com.au, Ponting will team up with some of Australia's T20 developing stars at the Hurricanes, including Tim David, Ben McDermott, Nathan Ellis, and Riley Meredith.
Ponting will join the Hurricanes as a full-fledged member of the team immediately.