HAWTHORN and North Melbourne may have stolen the hearts of Tasmanian football fans, but in the New Year they will go head to head to win the love of cricket tragics.

The highly anticipated Twenty20 clash between the Hawks and the Roos has been locked in for January 27 at Aurora Stadium.

Former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting today announced the Ponting Foundation would stage a charity T20 game between the Hawthorn and North — the Biggest Game of Cricket fundraiser.

“I am well aware of the public calls for the two Tassie-committed AFL clubs to play a game against each other, rotating between Launceston and Hobart each year,” Ponting, an avid North Melbourne fan, said.

“So we went and arranged the next best thing — a cricket game between the two clubs.”

Ponting will captain the North Melbourne team, while fellow Big Bash League commentator Damien Fleming will lead the Hawthorn side.

The idea for the game was spawned in the aftermath of the Ricky Ponting Tribute game that was played in Launceston in January 2014.

North Melbourne’s Drew Petrie and Brent Harvey and Hawthorn’s Jarryd Roughead and Luke Hodge participated in the game, which featured some of Ponting’s international teammates

Ponting confirmed both teams would be represented by current and past players as well as a few passionate cricketers who supported either side.

They include Peter Siddle and John Hastings as well as Hodge, with Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson also rumoured to be getting some time in the nets.

Petrie and Harvey will also be in the Kangaroos team.

James Henderson, Ponting’s manager and honorary chief executive of the Ponting Foundation, said the two teams would be announced in the coming months.

As with the Ponting Tribute game, all proceeds from the match will be distributed by the Ponting Foundation into its cancer and health related projects in Tasmania.

Details are available at pontingfoundation.com.au.