"I was pumped, I was really excited," Bailey said following the announcement that the Launceston-based all-rounder will be joining Tim Coyle's Greater Northern Raiders side.

"I think Evan will be so fantastic, he's such a talented cricketer to begin with and a great thinker on the game so he'll lead those guys really well and provide a bit of hard-nosed senior cricket.

"He's a gun with the bat and and a gun with the ball and I know that he's been on the radar for a couple of years as someone that would be awesome for the Raiders to get involved, so it's a really great signing.

"We need the Raiders to be a strong team in the greater Tasmanian competition, we know the history of Northern and North-West cricketers in Tasmania, it's so important that we continue to get the best young players coming through and playing for Tasmania and hopefully Australia."

Discussing the news at the launch of their Tasmanian Body Fit Training franchise, Test captain Tim Paine asked the former South Launceston batsman: "Are you a chance to go back there? It'd be great for the Northern kids to play a few games with a local legend like yourself."

Bailey said he had not picked up a bat since retiring but would send his son, Harry, into the program in a few years' time.