Launceston’s Adam Griffith will head both of the state’s high performance cricket programs following the resignation of one-year Hurricanes coach Gary Kirsten.
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The respected South African, who guided the ’Canes to last year’s Big Bash League final, decided to step away from the position due to a “specific personal reason”.
“It is an unfortunate circumstance as I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the club,” he said.
“I have no doubt the team will once again be extremely competitive, and under Adam Griffith and George Bailey they will enjoy strong leadership.”
Cricket Tasmania chief executive Nick Cummins said he was disappointed with Kirsten’s departure but could elaborate further on his circumstances.
He said Kirsten’s situation only became apparent in the past four weeks and that he is confident Griffith can lead both the Tigers and Hurricanes successfully.
Griffith is familiar with the Hurricanes program having served as Kirsten’s deputy.
“It's a real personal blow. We really enjoyed working with him and he had a significant impact on the program in a short amount of time,” Cummins said.
“On the positive side, we can now move to integrate our Hurricanes and Tigers male programs under one head coach and create continuity for players with coaches.
“It has always been our long-term plan for Grif to step up into that role under Gary’s leadership initially and then transition over the next couple of years.”
Cummins said Tigers batting maestro Jeff Vaughan would play a greater role in the Hurricanes set-up and that an assistant coach would be sought.
Griffith, a former South Launceston Cricket Club paceman, guided Tasmania out of its first-class rut last season with the Tigers making it all the way to the Sheffield Shield decider.
The 40-year-old said he is excited to apply similar methods to the state’s Twenty20 franchise which will play two home matches in Launceston for the first time this season.
“Now that I’m head coaching the bulk of both male squads year-round in Hobart, we can really grow some effective long-term plans and mix and match our training for all T20, limited overs and Shield four-day formats,” Griffith said.
“We don’t just want to go one better than last season’s Big Bash final and Sheffield Shield final – we want to be finals bound every year with the Hurricanes and Tigers.
“I've had a pretty good apprenticeship before coming here, and even from my teaching days back before I was a player, the culmination of all that has given me enough experience to tackle it.”
BBL and WBBL fixtures are expected to be released next week.
Corey Martin
Having started at The Examiner as a cadet in 2009, I have held various positions telling the stories of Northern Tasmanians in sport and news. I was appointed deputy editor in 2019 and became editor in September 2021.
Having started at The Examiner as a cadet in 2009, I have held various positions telling the stories of Northern Tasmanians in sport and news. I was appointed deputy editor in 2019 and became editor in September 2021.
