Legendary Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting has firmly stated that he has no interest in becoming the white-ball head coach of the England cricket team following Matthew Mott’s exit last month.
Ponting’s name had been mentioned as a potential candidate for the high-profile role with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). However, despite his distinguished career as both a player and coach, the former Australian captain has definitively dismissed any interest in the position.
Ricky Ponting rules out England’s white-ball head coach job amid ongoing speculation
Ricky Ponting recently concluded his seven-year tenure with the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The renowned cricketer is now exploring other coaching roles within the IPL and potential opportunities globally.
Ponting’s decision to focus on IPL and franchise cricket indicates his preference to avoid international coaching roles at this time. He has clearly stated his lack of interest in becoming England’s white-ball coach.
Ponting highlighted that international coaching positions don’t fit his current priorities due to their extensive time commitments, which he is unable to provide at the moment. He also mentioned his ongoing engagements with television work, commentary, and his desire to spend more time at home as reasons for declining the role.
Ricky Ponting said on the ICC Review: “No, I wouldn’t ever consider doing that actually. I’m on record saying that international jobs for me right now are not really where my life is at, as there’s just so much more time taken up with an international job. I’ve got other commitments as well, with my TV work and things that I do, and I’m also trying to balance that out with having a decent amount of home time, which I haven’t had much of the last couple of years anyway.”
Coaching England for an Australian is slightly different thing: Ponting
The legendary cricketer Ricky Ponting also pointed out that while coaching international teams is one thing, coaching England, given his Australian background, presents a unique challenge, so he will not take up the job with England cricket, as he already has enough work. Ricky Ponting has openly suggested to England not to consider him for the job.
Ricky Ponting further explained, “Coaching other international teams is one thing; coaching England for an Australian is probably something slightly different, but right now there’s sort of enough on my plate as I’ve got a bit more coming up in the next couple of months in the UK. Australia’s got some white-ball stuff coming up over there, which I’ll go and comment on, so no, right now if my name was on the list, they can actually take it off.”
The former Australian captain is keen on returning to the IPL as coach and expecting to get the new job in the coming months. He signed off by saying, “I’d love to coach again in the IPL. There could be a few opportunities for me popping up in the next couple of months, and I’d love to be back coaching in the IPL again next season.”
