Ponting back with the Hurricanes for BBL|12

Australian legend Ricky Ponting – who boasts one of the world's best cricket minds – is back with the Hobart Hurricanes, signing on as Head of Strategy.

Ponting, who played eight matches for the Hurricanes in the first two editions of the BBL, has inked a three-year deal with the men's program that will see him identify candidates for the vacant head coach position.

The former Test captain has coached Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League for the past five seasons and his in-depth analysis of the game is evident throughout his commentary during Test matches and the KFC BBL as part of the Channel 7 team across the Australia's summer of cricket.

The 47-year-old has also previously held interim and specialist coaching roles with the Australian men’s cricket team.

He has previously said the time commitment of being a national team head coach has stopped him from considering coaching Australia full-time.

"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 know so much more about the nuances of the T20 game now than I did then," Ponting 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."

The Hurricanes finished fifth last season but were bundled out in the first final by Adelaide Strikers.

At the Hurricanes, Ponting will link up with some of Australia's T20 rising stars in Tim David, Ben McDermott, Nathan Ellis and Riley Meredith.

Former Australia men's coach, Justin Langer, who is a close friend of Ponting's, has previously been linked to the Hurricanes head coaching role, which has been vacant since Adam Griffith resigned at the end of BBL|11.

Griffith also stepped down from his role as Cricket Tasmania Director of Coaching in late January.

Cricket Tasmania CEO Dominic Baker said it was great for both Tasmanian cricket and the BBL 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 begins his role with the Hurricanes immediately.