DOUBLE IMPACT

New Tigers coach Griffith will also have a bash with ‘Canes

CRICKET Tasmania hopes to tap into Adam Griffith’s success with the Perth Scorchers to propel the Hobart Hurricanes back into finals action.

Griffith has been appointed Tigers coach for the next three seasons, but will also take a yet-to-be-defined role assisting new Hurricanes coach Gary Kirsten.

During Griffith’s time in Perth, the Scorchers made five of six finals in the Big Bash League.

“We still haven’t really put that into firm terms yet, but I’m really excited at the opportunity to work with the Hurricanes,” Griffith said.

“In Perth that was something that worked really well with the Scorchers and I’m looking forward to working with CT to put the Hurricanes in the same space.

“There are a few secrets there that we will be bringing back, but something that we like to keep under wraps.”

CT CEO Nick Cummins said a phone hook-up with Kirsten would discuss Griffith’s role.

“It is a real competitive edge and we should take that,” Cummins said.

“Adam has got some terrific experience with the Scorchers, their record speaks for itself so we would be crazy not to get him involved with the program.”

Griffith visited Blundstone Arena yesterday.

He said his top priority with the Tigers would be looking at the playing and staff list and the development structure in the state for producing firstclass cricketers.

“Every time Tasmania turns up to play a game of cricket we play to win,” he said.

“In the background we’ll also be working through the development process of all our players and making sure individually they are developing both on and off the field. Character is a big thing for me.”

After the sacking of Andrew Dykes, CT is without a cricket operations manager as it begins its contract list cull and negotiations.

Cummins said he and Griffith, with input from captain George Bailey, would manage the list until the position was filled.

He also said Griffith would be given time to change the list and have the desired impact as the Tigers come off a low base, having finished last in the past two Sheffield Shield seasons.

“The emphasis is on performances rather than wins,” Cummins said.

“I like the fact that the team is going to take the field wanting to win every game but we could potentially lose every game because we have seven Tasmanians playing for Australia and we don’t have the depth and that would be a good problem to have.

“So we have to be careful not to get fixated on wins.”