Share

No permanent coach role for Ponting

Cape Town - Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting says that despite enjoying his stint as an assistant coach for the national T20 team he doesn't want a permanent role just yet.

Ponting has been asked to assist in the absence of the regular backroom staff who have travelled to India along with the Test squad.

The scheduling of the T20I series against Sri Lanka means that none of the Test regulars could take part in this series and naturally the support staff would be unable to as well.

Justin Langer has taken the head coach role with Jason Gillespie and Ricky Ponting supporting Langer, who also led the team in a triangular ODI series in the Caribbean last year.

"It's all different stuff now, different colours, different sponsors, but it was a great feeling," Ponting told cricket.com.au.

When asked about a full-time coaching role Ponting replied: "Not just now, but from the minute I got the phone call from Justin (Langer) wanting me to be involved for these three games I was very excited.

"I work covering the Big Bash so I get a good look at the players and have a good understanding of how they play.

"To be able to be with them over the next week or two and help them out, hopefully win some games for Australia, it should be a very enjoyable time."

Ponting is looking forward to working with a young team and also the opportunity to re-unite with former team-mates.

"We should be able to bring our own sort of dynamic to the team," said Ponting.

"The team will have its own little dynamic, but the three of us played together for so many years and we know each other very well.

"We're all slightly different as well, which probably helps as a coaching group."

Ponting admits to enjoying coaching at least in the Indian Premier League (IPL) but was unwilling to commit to any sort of full-time coaching job just yet.

"Coaching in the IPL was really challenging and a lot of fun... to get a real taste for what coaching is all about was great.

"As a past player who's been ultra competitive all through your playing time and then when your career ends, that all goes away.

"Coaching is a way to add a bit more of that competitiveness back into life.

"That's one thing I've said to the boys over the last couple of days, I'm a pretty competitive person and if I see things around the group that aren’t the way I want them, I'll let them know and make sure they up the ante and get everything out of themselves."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
33% - 1814 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1769 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1076 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 457 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 185 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
5% - 252 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE