Gary Kirsten has become the head coach of the Hobart Hurricanes, joining the Big Bash League franchise on a two-year deal.
The former Proteas player, coach and World Cup winner during his stint with India takes over from Damien Wright, whose contact wasn’t extended this year, ending his four-year stint.
Kirsten, who has been heavily involved with the Gary Kirsten Cricket Academy and took part in the recently-concluded Absa Cape Epic, returns to high-profile coaching after being removed as the Delhi Daredevils coach towards the end of 2015.
After his World Cup success with India in 2011, he took the Proteas to No 1 in the Test rankings between 2011-2013, which followed two largely unsuccessful campaigns with the Daredevils.
The Hurricanes were runners-up in 2013-14 in the Australian T20 event, but haven’t finished higher than fifth since then.
Kirsten played 101 Tests and 185 ODIs for the Proteas between 1993-2004, amassing over 14 000 runs across the formats.
????BREAKING NEWS????
Gary Kirsten named as Head Coach for the next two seasons #BBL #CaneTrain pic.twitter.com/m3Yk8LGj1t— Hobart Hurricanes (@HurricanesBBL) April 3, 2017
Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images