Gary Kirsten is busy preparing for his maiden coaching stint in Australia’s Big Bash League.
The 49-year-old who signed a two-year contract with the Hobart Hurricanes earlier in the year travelled to Tasmania recently to start work ahead of the 2017/18 tournament which gets underway in December.
The Hurricanes endured a disappointing campaign last season having won just three out of eight games.
“I am really looking forward to getting involved,” Kirsten beamed.
“The visit gave me a chance to familiarize myself with the environment and have a number of conversations to understand where the team was last year,” he explained.
“The sense that I got is that the team is kind of bubbling under. They have shown that they do have something and it is just a few tweaks that can make a big difference,” Kirsten said.
Kirsten admits that he has lofty ambitions for the team despite their recent struggles.
“The goal is to win the BBL,” Kirsten said.
“What is important is that we make sure everything we do in recruiting, exposing the brand, our playing ability and preparation all stack up right. Then we will have a good chance of doing well,” Kirsten revealed.
He will head back to Australia in October to join Tasmania’s Matador Cup squad and work alongside coach, Adam Griffith.
The 39-year-old will be Kirsten’s assistant coach at the tournament.
“I will spend around 10 days with the team and connect with the players. It is also to watch Adam at work so we align ourselves,” he concluded.